Pokémon returns for 23rd consecutive appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Pokémon Company International confirmed this week that a giant Pokémon balloon will appear in the yearly Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, just as in every parade since the debut of the original Pikachu balloon in 2001. Pikachu and Eevee will appear along the 2.5 mile long parade route in New York City in their Poké Ball sleigh, accompanied by 90 balloon handlers on the ground. This will be Pikachu and Eevee’s third appearance in the sleigh, as the balloon debuted in 2021 in conjunction with the Pokémon franchise’s 25th anniversary. It’s also the first of the four Pokémon balloons in the parade’s history to feature a Pokémon other than Pikachu.

“Pokémon has delighted fans as part of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for over 20 years, and we’re honored to be back again in 2023, kicking off the holiday festivities at New York City’s most quintessential event of the season,” said Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “Parade-goers and viewers at home can look forward to ushering in the holiday season with Pokémon as Pikachu and Eevee float along the backdrop of Manhattan’s autumnal skies.”

The Pikachu and Eevee balloon is 48 feet long, 23 feet wide, and 34 feet tall, making it as tall as a three-story building. The sleigh’s blades are noted to be as long as a semi-truck. This is the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is scheduled to begin November 23rd at 8:30 a.m. EST.