A welcome form of inflation: Balloons take shape for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

NEW YORK (AP) — Giant balloons got into shape Wednesday for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as crews inflated the giant characters on the streets of New York City.

The parade kicks off Thursday morning, with dozens of huge balloons set to take to the skies. Floats, entertainers, marching bands and more will grace the streets.

About 100 balloon technicians and volunteers worked Wednesday to puff up dozens of characters. It takes about eight hours to ready them all, said Kathleen Wright, who oversees production operations for Macy's Studios.

The process might be gradual, but Ethan Otieno was excited to see it.

"I think it’s very cool to watch them be inflated and try to guess the characters,” the tourist from Texas said while watching with relatives.

Otieno's favorite balloon? Smokey Bear.

The parade is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. EST, rain or shine. It runs from Manhattan’s Upper West Side to Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street.

Officials are watching the weather, since the forecast as of Wednesday evening calls for a somewhat gusty day. For safety reasons, New York City law prohibits Macy's from flying the full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 kph) or wind gusts are over 35 mph (56 kph). Weather has grounded the balloons only once, in 1971, but they also sometimes have soared lower than usual because of wind.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference that authorities would decide Thursday morning whether any balloon adjustments are needed.

New balloons in this year's lineup include Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man, Mario from Super Mario Brothers and a 32-foot-tall (9.8-meter) balloon onion carriage featuring eight characters from the world of “Shrek.”

“It’s a lot of those really nostalgic and familiar characters, everybody’s favorites,” Wright said. There are also new balloons derived from characters in this year's Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters."

New floats this year include a Pop Mart entry, with the ubiquitous figure Labubu, as well as Skullpanda, Peach Riot, Dimoo, Molly, Duckoo and Mokoko.

A star-studded lineup of performers — including Cynthia Erivo, Conan Gray, Lainey Wilson and Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami of HUNTR/X, the fictional girl group at the heart of “KPop Demon Hunters” — will be sprinkled throughout the show, along with a slew of marching bands, Broadway cast members and others. As is traditional, the Radio City Rockettes are expected.

Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed.

A volunteer passes the Nickelodeon's Dora balloon during the balloon inflation for the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Volunteers pass a Spider-Man balloon during preparations for the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

People pass Buzz Lightyear during the balloon inflation for the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Volunteers work during the balloon inflation for the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

People pass Mario balloon during inflation for the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Tanner Pearson broke a tie at 6:17 of the third period and the Winnipeg Jets beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Sunday for their first back-to-back victories since mid-November.

Pearson took a pass from Josh Morrissey in front of the net and beat Jake Allen.

The Jets beat Los Angeles on Friday night to end an 11-game losing streak. They last won two straight Nov. 15-18. Winnipeg also won a one-goal game for the first time since Nov. 15, snapping an NHL record of 13 consecutive losses.

Alex Iafallo, Jonathan Toews and Gabriel Vilardi also scored, and Morrissey and Cole Perfetti each had two assists. Connor Hellebuyck made 24 saves.

Winnipeg-born Cody Glass scored twice for New Jersey. Nico Hischier also had a goal, and Allen stopped 18 shots. The Devils have lost four consecutive games for the first time since early December.

Iafallo opneed the scoring with 1:10 left in the first period on a shot that deflected in. Hischier tied it 37 seconds later off a rebound.

Glass gave the Devils the lead at 1:05 of the second when he redirected a pass from Luke Hughes. Toews tied it at 2:36.

New Jersey defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler’s shot went in just under a minute later, but the Jets successfully challenged for goaltender interference because Paul Cotter had bumped into Hellebuyck.

Glass put New Jersey ahead at 8:08, and Vilardi countered with his 18th of the season when he batted the puck in with 2:03 left in the second.

Devils: At Minnesota on Monday night.

Jets: Host the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) celebrates after his goal against the New Jersey Devils with Jonathan Toews (19) and Dylan DeMelo (2) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) celebrates after his goal against the New Jersey Devils with Jonathan Toews (19) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Tanner Pearson (70) celebrates after the winning goal against the New Jersey Devils with Josh Morrissey (44), Daniel Zhilkin (53) and Logan Stanley (64) in an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Nino Niederreiter (62) tries score as New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen, center top, makes a save during third-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Nino Niederreiter (62) tries to control the puck as New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen, center top, makes a save during third-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)