Top Thanksgiving Day Parade Characters on Hoopla
Celebrate the excitement of the Thanksgiving Day parade right from your home with Hoopla! As balloons soar down New York City streets, floats parade by, and music fills the air, Hoopla has the books, movies, and shows that are the origins of these beloved parade characters.
Thanksgiving Parade Favorites
From the iconic Snoopy to the brave Buzz Lightyear, the Thanksgiving parade is filled with familiar faces kids already love. With Hoopla, you can enjoy animated adventures, read-aloud stories, action-packed movies, and sing-along specials starring these famous friends—no crowds involved!
Macy’s Balloon Parade Magic
The floats and balloons have been a Thanksgiving tradition since 1924, featuring extravagant, colorful floats and giant floating versions of beloved characters. Watch Minnie Mouse, Mario, Spider-Man, and Pikachu take over the streets of New York City every year—then enjoy their stories anytime on Hoopla. Explore fun movies, stories, and series featuring these favorites and let your family’s imagination take flight.
Thanksgiving Parade Balloons and Floats on Hoopla
Snoopy, everyone’s favorite beagle, makes two appearances in the parade: the Beagle Scout Snoopy Balloon and the Camp Snoopy Float. It’s a special year for Snoopy and all the other Peanuts characters: 2025 is the beloved comic strip’s 75th anniversary! Follow Snoopy’s adventures on Hoopla:
Snoopy: Beagle Scout Adventures (graphic novel)
Follow the Beagle Scouts through encounters with wildlife, rugged trails, and root beer breaks along the way. Snoopy: Beagle Scout Adventures also includes a “More-to-Explore” section with camping tips, scavenger hunts, and fun outdoor activities for real-life adventurers.
More Snoopy on Hoopla:
Buzz Lightyear travels to infinity and beyond as a larger-than-life balloon. Check out Toy Story on Hoopla!
Disney Pixar’s Toy Story Vol. 1 (graphic novel)
Woody, Andy’s favorite cowboy doll, feels jealous when a new toy, Buzz Lightyear, arrives on the scene. After getting lost far from home, the two must work together to return to Andy’s room. Later, when Woody is stolen by a greedy collector, Buzz and the gang set out on a daring rescue adventure.
The Spider-Man balloon has been part of the Thanksgiving parade since 1987. In 2009’s parade, a modernized version of Spider-Man was unveiled.
Spider-Man: Original Manga: Shadow Warrior (graphic novel)
Journey to 19th century Japan, where kingpin Wilson Fisk has escaped to become Edo’s governor. Spider-heroes Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Ghost-Spider pursue him, but Fisk unleashes a dangerous alien symbiote. When a young man named Hyo bonds with it and becomes Venom, chaos erupts. Perfect for fans of both manga and superhero adventures!
More Spider-Man on Hoopla:
The World of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles float is a big hit every year, featuring the famous four: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures Vol. 1 (graphic novel)
Cowabunga! The original animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in four “lost episodes” from their classic 1987 cartoon era. Radical adventures, digital danger, rock n’ roll mayhem, superpowered heroes, and microscopic missions—turtle power forever!
More Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Hoopla:
And speaking of Stranger Things, make sure to catch the Upside Down Invasion float.
Stranger Things on Hoopla:
Hey! It’s Greg Heffley, the plucky, funny middle-schooler and another of the parade’s enormous balloons!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (audiobook)
Jeff Kinney’s hilarious debut captures the awkward, laugh-out-loud chaos of middle school life. Sixth-grader Greg Heffley struggles with his pesky brothers, clueless parents, and everyday drama—but he’s documenting it all in his “journal,” not a diary! Filled with wit and relatable moments, Greg’s first year of middle school is anything but ordinary.
More Diary of a Wimpy Kid on Hoopla:
Partypooper: A Side-Splitting Birthday Disaster (eBook)
You’re invited to Greg Heffley’s most chaotic birthday ever! Greg plans the ultimate celebration—but everything goes hilariously wrong. With cake catastrophes, party fails, and family mayhem, this birthday bash is a total blowout.
Shrek’s Onion Carriage balloon features the ogre we know and love from the movies. Have you met the original Shrek? Hoopla has it:
SHREK! (audiobook)
In William Steig’s SHREK!, a not-so-ordinary ogre leaves his swamp to explore the world. Along the way, he meets bizarre creatures, faces wild adventures, and ultimately finds love with a princess as wonderfully hideous as he is. It’s the OG ogre!
Gabby and Pandy Paws have their very own, very sweet balloon.
Gabby’s Dollhouse: 5-Minute Stories (eBook)
Step into the magical world of DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse with this purr-fect collection of seven short stories! Join Gabby Girl, Pandy Paws, and their kitty friends for fun-filled adventures. Each tale takes about five minutes to read—just right for bedtimes and story times.
Will you recognize the Monkey D. Luffy balloon? Kids will!
One Piece (8 seasons) (TV)
One Piece is a Japanese manga and anime about Monkey D. Luffy, a boy whose body turns rubber after eating a Devil Fruit. His big goal? To become the King of the Pirates by finding the legendary treasure, One Piece. Along the way, he gathers the Straw Hat Pirates and sails the seas, taking on tough pirates and the Marines.
Pokémon? Catch ’em all, starting with the Pikachu and Eevee balloon.
Pokémon (4 seasons) (TV)
The Pokémon games follow a young trainer aiming to capture every Pokémon, defeat the Elite Four, and win the championship. In the animated series, Ash Ketchum and his trusty Pikachu travel the world, challenging Gym Leaders and competing in Pokémon Leagues as they pursue the ultimate goal: becoming a Pokémon Master.
More Pokémon on Hoopla:
What would a parade be without the monsters of Sesame Street? The 1-2-3 Sesame Street float is a happy, sunny favorite.
Best of Friends (movie)
Everyone has a favorite Sesame Street character! Whether it’s sweet Grover, playful Elmo, best buddies Bert and Ernie, or grumpy Oscar, this fan-selected compilation has them all. Enjoy fun episodes and special celebrity appearances from Johnny Cash, James Taylor, James Blunt, Julianne Moore, Ricky Gervais, Elvis Costello, and more in this delightful collection of Sesame Street favorites.
More Sesame Street on Hoopla:
And a few more favorites you can find in the parade and on Hoopla:
Can’t get enough of the Thanksgiving Day parade? Keep the party going with Hoopla’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Characters collection. This Thanksgiving, bring the wonder of the parade home with Hoopla—where every balloon, float, and beloved character is just a click away.
And Last But Not Least—Kpop Demon Hunters:
Kpop Demon Hunters Soundtrack
Kids all over the world can’t get enough of both the movie and the soundtrack from the beloved film Kpop Demon Hunters. And thanks to Hoopla, kids (and adults) can stream the soundtrack anytime, anywhere.
Enjoy this free, kid-friendly Thanksgiving activity sheet:
Happy Thanksgiving!
*Titles may vary by library
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