M&Ms

On November 25, 2005, a giant M&M balloon struck a light post in Times Square during the Macy's Day Parade. The accident injured four women, however each of the woman only received minor cuts and bruises. The 40-foot long, 30.5-foot wide, 50.5-foot tall balloon started to turn into a light post. This accident brought memories of the 1997 “Cat in the Hat” incident to light. After the 1997 incident, former Mayor Giuliani created a twelve-member panel that created guidelines for he parade balloons. This panel certified the candy balloon safe to operate early that morning and, so far, the crash only appears to have been an accident.


The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 by the department stores’ employees who desired to celebrate the American holiday with traditional European feasts. The parade begins at the American Museum of Natural History and heads south along Central Park. At Columbus Circle, the balloons turn onto Broadway, where the balloons are allowed to fly at their maximum height. The show continues through Times Square and takes two rights, first onto 34th Street and then onto 7th Ave, where the balloons are finally disassembled.