A Visual History of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Beginnings
In 1924, Macy's hosted its first parade, then known as the Macy's Christmas Parade. Macy's employees participated in the inaugural event, and the company borrowed live animals from the Central Park Zoo to accompany the floats. The parade's success was encouraging, and as a result, Macy's decided to make the event an annual occurrence. Above: a parade float from the Macy's 1926 Thanksgiving Day Parade.

• How They Make Those Thanksgiving's Day Floats