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Underdog makes his triumphant return to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Underdog, Underdog!
Underdog will be flying high above the streets of New York City this Thanksgiving! After 42 years of retirement, our favorite canine superhero's balloon is being inflated again to participate in this year's special 100th anniversary parade.
Underdog originally debuted in the 1965 parade alongside other balloons of classic cartoon characters, including Linus the Lionhearted, Popeye, and Donald Duck. The balloon itself used 75 gallons of paint and 700 yards of nylon. Once blown up with helium, the final balloon size was 63 feet six inches long, 34 feet nine inches wide, and 35 feet tall. The balloon was one of the only cartoon character balloons to be designed in collaboration with the character's creator, Joe Harris.
Only two events interrupted Underdog's parade career. In 1971, a rainstorm with heavy winds sent the balloon's sandbags flying and prevented it from inflating. The 1971 storm was the only time in the history of the parade when all of the balloons were grounded. Likewise, storms in 1975 caused the Underdog balloon to crash into a lamppost and deflated its ear, paw, and forehead; the accident prevented Underdog from finishing the parade. Another accident occurred in 1976, when Underdog collided with a pole, deflating the balloon's left paw, but he was able to complete the parade.
After nearly twenty years, Underdog made his final appearance in the parade in 1984, but his parade career was far from over. The Underdog balloon was then shipped to Atlanta, Georgia, to appear in the 1985 Macy's-Egleston Christmas Parade. During this parade, again there was a collision and Underdog's right arm was deflated. Parade organizers ultimately decided to stow Underdog away at the Macy's Studios in Hoboken.
No one wanted to give up on the Underdog balloon, so they tried an inflation test in 1991 for the 65th Macy's Parade, but it failed and was deemed ineligible. The failure rating was due to the worn-out fabric and seams keeping the balloon from holding helium. Parade organizers decided to discard the balloon in 2005.
Underdog's balloon journey has been a real underdog story. Just when things seemed like we would never see anothing Underdog Float, the Parade organizers announced Underdog's return. We can look forward to seeing the fearless canine in the sky once again this year in the 2026 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This balloon is a brand new balloon but it's closely modelled after the original balloon.
