In 1966, the idea of Snoopy becoming a giant balloon aviator in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was born. Ultimately he didn’t debut until 1968. Goodyear manufactured the balloon based on a design of the beloved cartoon pooch adapted by William Ludwick. Furnished by United Media, Ludwick’s Snoopy stood 50 feet tall, 27 feet wide, weighed 540 lbs, and had a volume of 8,500 cubic feet of helium. The beagle was a behemoth! Snoopy flew so dog-gone well in his debut year he didn’t even need a plane! However, something else was starting to fall into shape; Man was going into Outer Space, and so was Snoopy. 

In 1969, Snoopy traded in his goggles, aviator helmet, and scarf in storage for the equipment of an astronaut. He had a successful 9-year career as an astronaut, but it didn’t go the smoothest. 1971 proved to be one of the rainiest and windiest parades of all time; out of the ten giant balloons that year, only three were inflated. Snoopy was one of them. Unfortunately, the fierce winds, wrapped him around the cab of the helium truck and Snoopy, Macy’s original character Happy Dragon, and Smokey the Bear had to be removed from the procession. Snoopy returned in 1972 but suffered from a deflated chest and a limp wrist in 1973. Nevertheless, he successfully completed all the parades from  1972-74. However, another challenging year for Snoopy was here. 

Then it rained again in 1975. Wind and rain wracked the floats and tore at the inflated balloons. Some began to fail and just as Snoopy arrived at 73rd Street, he careened into a lamp post and quickly deflated. Snoopy could not continue, joining the cartoon character Underdog, and the new balloon of ‘75 based on a classic toy: Hasbro’s Weeble. Three balloons had to watch the parade from the sideline, it was 1971 all over again for the dogs. 

Snoopy returned swiftly in 1976 and was the first balloon of the parade that year and would continue as the fifth balloon in 1977, his last as an astronaut. Snoopy donned his signature red scarf, aviator helmet, and goggles in 1978 and 1979, finishing the decade with two successful flights. 

For Snoopy, the 1980s started off on the wrong foot when, a shard of glass punctured his right leg, leaving a large tear that could not be fixed onsite. Goodyear’s solution to this was putting a LARGE, OBVIOUS, GRAY BAND-AID ON HIS LEG. In 1981, while floating along above the crowded Manhattan streets after his appearance on the NBC telecast, Snoopy’s BAND-AID fell off. It was embarrassing and literally deflating. Fortunately, he was rushed to a nearby deflation area and was saved. He limped his way through the 1982 parade with a deflated tail until he retired. Snoopy was placed on United Media’s America’s Comic Stars float on his doghouse along with his buddy Woodstock. The dog and bird pairing lasted from 1983 until 1984.

As the midway point of the 1980s came around, the Snoopster struck once again carrying a letter that opened at Herald Square, which consisted of Santa’s nice list of good boys and girls. However, after the beagle’s NBC telecast, the nice list slipped right out of his hands and fell onto the ground of 34th Street. Luckily no one was injured, and Snoopy would be retired from the Thanksgiving Parade for good. He reappeared at Macy's-Egleston Christmas Parade in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 6, 1986 alongside Donald Duck and Yogi Bear.

After numerous complaints and requests, in 1987, Snoopy returned as an ice skater; this would only last a year. Then Snoopy came back in skates with some cool earmuffs and his bird buddy Woodstock which lasted from 1988-95. In 1999, the Snoopster was now a PARTIER with a Jester’s hat to usher the new millennium and later Macy’s 75th Parade in 2001. Afterwards, his owner, Charlie Brown, filled in for four parades trying to kick the elusive football, Snoopy would return five years later.  This time as a World War I Flying Ace from 2006-11. He ended up being the lead balloon twice in 2006 and 2010. As the condition of the Snoopy balloon began to degrade and contract issues with Peanuts Worldwide emerged, Charlie made a brief comeback in 2012. From 2013-15, Snoopy returned with Woodstock perched on his head steering his ears for their record-setting 35th appearance across all seven versions.

Ready for takeoff in 2019, Snoopy returned as a NASA astronaut to promote his new series Snoopy in Space on Apple TV+, the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, and the many missions to come alongside the original Astronaut Snoopy’s 50th anniversary as well. He was produced by Raven Aerostar, which ironically made Snoopy their 100th balloon ever made. He stands at 49 feet tall, 43 feet long, 29 feet wide and weighs 760 pounds. He’s furnished by Peanuts Worldwide, and this 8th balloon based on his likeness was designed by Joey Ammons. Even though he didn’t make it in 2020 due to, you know what, Astronaut Snoopy has made four appearances since. Snoopy is considered one of the most popular Macy’s Parade balloons. He won the Today Show’s Macy’s Parade bracket stomping on his competition on the way to the finals where he completely annihilated runner-up Papa Smurf.

To date, Snoopy has appeared in 41 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades. Whether through rain, wind, or any act of man Snoopy will undoubtedly be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for decades to come.

by ​Kyle Samsel