The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a beloved holiday tradition, initially featured live animals when it started in 1924 as the Macy's Christmas Parade. However, the inclusion of animals was short-lived, as Macy's decided not to feature them in the following year's parade due to the animals' scary roars and growls, which frightened many onlookers, especially children. According to History.com, the animals were not too thrilled about being paraded around. Instead, Macy's opted for less intimidating character balloons, which became a hallmark of the parade.

The parade has undergone several changes and evolutions since then. In 1927, the iconic giant balloons that we now associate with the parade first made an appearance with a Felix the Cat balloon designed by artist and puppeteer Tony Sarg. Over the years, the parade route has been shortened to its current 2.5-mile stretch, and it has grown to include intricate floats, celebrities, performances, marching bands, and cheerleaders.

While the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will not feature live animals this year, it is set to showcase 25 balloons, 31 floats, and 18 celebrities. So, even without the animals, the parade promises to be a festive and entertaining event for all.