Macy's 2022 Thanksgiving Parade prep - in pictures
Workers inflate a balloon of the Dragonball character Goku as the balloon is readied for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. AP
Stuart the Minion and his banana are making their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut. The 96th annual parade will take place in New York on Thursday. AFP
Watching the inflating of the balloons is a pre-Thanksgiving tradition for many and open to the public. AP
Stuart is considered to be a slacker compared to the other Minions, preferring to relax and play the ukulele, rather than listening to Tiny Boss's orders. AFP
Snoopy has been a regular staple character in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1968. AFP
The Sinclair Oil Corporation’s Dino has appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1963. AP
TikTok sensation Corn Kid will appear on the Jolly Green Giant float. AFP
The Macy’s Turkey Float struts his stuffing before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. AFP
The first SpongeBob balloon is notable as the parade's first square balloon, requiring more than 600 internal tie-ins to retain the shape that has become synonymous with the character. AFP
A police canine watches as members of the Macy's Inflation Team work to inflate balloons and maybe chase them. AFP
In August of 2020, the Papa Smurf balloon was brought out of retirement and used as a test subject for the newly enacted five-vehicle framework, which was put in place to reduce the amount of handlers and overall parade participants. AFP
The 2022 event will be the third consecutive parade to enact a health and safety plan in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP
A total of 90 handlers are needed to man this Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloon. AFP
The giant balloons were originally inflated with air and did not float. AFP
Members of the Macy's Inflation Team try not to get carried away. AFP
Members of the Macy's Inflation Team work to inflate the Dino and Baby Dino balloon. AFP
Baby Shark will make its Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance in 2022, with the debut of an all-new float-balloon combo. AFP
The original Ronald McDonald balloon made its first public appearance at the Macy's store located in the Dallas Galleria, appearing alongside the Baby Shamu balloon flying high above the mall's famed ice-skating rink. AFP
Striker the US Soccer Star pays homage to the US men's football team, currently playing in the World Cup. AFP
Handlers with balloon footballs will follow behind Striker's striking foot. AFP
The Grogu or Baby Yoda balloon is a crowd pleaser. Invision / AP
Most of the parade performances take place in front of the famous New York store or on individual floats. Reuters
Stuart the minion will float through the sky holding a 3D printed man inside a banana costume. Photo: Macy's
Hundreds of people queue to watch the floats being prepared. Getty Images / AFP
The Wimpy Kid is ready to take Manhattan. EPA
Bluey gets final touches from parade balloon techs. EPA
Toddlers watch in awe as some of their favourite characters get supersized. EPA
New York City Mayor Eric Adams made assurances that the parade goers safety was of upmost importance. EPA
