November 27, 1924 –
Macy’s sponsored its first Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (called Macy’s Christmas Parade) in New York City on this date. The three-hour parade is held annually and is the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade along with Detroit’s “America’s Thanksgiving Parade,” which began on the same day.
Three floats (pulled by horses), four bands and zoo animals from the Central Park Zoo – camels, donkeys, elephants and goats – starred in the parade (balloons didn’t show up until 1927.)
Santa Claus was last in the lineup, a tradition that continues to this day.
(Yes, yes, I know the parade in Philadelphia is older.)
The Haus of Dcaligari 