Bluey balloon popped before Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
A 16-metre tall balloon of beloved Aussie character Bluey suffered a major malfunction at New York’s famed Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where another Aussie star also performed.
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There were fears for Bluey fans who were going to be left deflated by some shocking news.
A 16-metre long balloon of the beloved hit kids’ TV character popped while it was being inflated but thankfully made a quick recovery so that it was ready to fly high above crowds during the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan.
Crowds watching the balloons get filled with air heard a “loud noise” and a “gust of air” coming from Bluey just after 2pm yesterday, local time, as the cartoon dog suffered a large puncture in one of her paws, the New York Post reports.
But organisers worked overtime to make sure the beloved character was ready to star in the high flying parade that features 22 big balloons, 34 floats and seven wheeled “balloonicles”.
The famous annual parade in New York kicks off the Thanksgiving holiday and is a big hit with kids and adults alike.
After Bluey Balloon popped during inflation this afternoon, it has now been restored and is expected to be at the Thanksgiving Day Parade tomorrow! https://t.co/65qUJjbalqpic.twitter.com/YSWQxmxxii
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) November 28, 2024
New York’s Police Chief of Patrol John Chell assured fans that she’ll be a “champion” in the parade. And she was!
“Hey all, the balloons are ready and I’m glad to report that Bluey is recovering!,” NYPD Chief Chell posted to X ahead of the parade.
“Bluey is going to play like a champion”.
Bluey is a fan favourite among young spectators in America and around the world who avidly watch the Australian series, created by Joe Brumm and based on his family’s own experiences.
The show premiered in 2018 and centres on Bluey, a female Blue Heeler pup, her younger sibling Bingo and her parents, Chilli and Bandit.
The series has attracted A-list voiceover talent including Rose Byrne, Joel Edgerton, Natalie Portman and Eva Mendes, and the show has spawned a cottage merchandising industry including books, bedding and plush toys.
While Bluey the balloon triumphed, organisers were worried about heavy rainfall.
A Thanksgiving Day storm was expected to bring rain throughout the length of the parade with some heavy downpours, with winds picking up as the day progresses.
The iconic balloons can’t fly if winds reach a sustained 37km/h, although the forecast centre expected winds of about 16-31km/h.
Nevertheless, the show must go on and Bluey led the pack, which included the Bluey balloon team decked out in rain ponchos, along with Spider-Man, Minnie Mouse, SpongeBob SquarePants, Ronald McDonald and many more.
Together they all floated 4km downtown, past landmarks such as Radio City Music Hall, to Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, braving the rain and chill, as crowds cheered them on.
This is the 98th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which was first held in 1924 and only paused from 1942 to 1944 during World War II.
This year, anti-Israel protesters crashed the parade route and tried to obstruct the Ronald McDonald float by sitting in the middle of Sixth Avenue. The Post reported police made more than 20 arrests.
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Originally published as Bluey balloon popped before Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
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