A hippo balloon floats in the 1940 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade: Before balloons became the event’s major draw, live animals were led down Manhattan streets. For the parade’s first few years, animals from the Central Park Zoo joined the marching bands and clowns on the procession route. Photos: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade through the years

A hippo balloon floats in the 1940 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade: Before balloons became the event’s major draw, live animals were led down Manhattan streets. For the parade’s first few years, animals from the Central Park Zoo joined the marching bands and clowns on the procession route.

Photos: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade through the years

Tags: photography thanksgiving Macy's parade history