Mama, Papa and Baby

## The Parade Family Balloonheads

The Parade Family Balloonheads make their maiden march down the streets of New York City in 2003. (Photo: Getty Images)

## Mama, Papa & Baby Balloonheads

The **Mama, Papa and Baby Balloonheads**, formerly known as the **Parade Family Balloonheads**, are a trio of balloonhead costumes originating from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

## History with the Macy's Parade

The Parade Family Balloonheads made their first Parade appearance in 2003, leading the Parade en route to Herald Square alongside the Macy's Parade Skaters. The trio of balloonheads were the first of their kind, consisting of an over-sized inflatable head which rests on the head of the performer inside. The performer inside was concealed by a matching outfit.

The happy family featured a dapperly-dressed dad, sporting a fancy blue tuxedo, a mother wearing a flowing yellow dress and and over-sized pearl necklace, and an upset baby who may have just missed his nap time.

The trio make an appearance outside of the Parade just weeks later, as they marched in that year's edition of Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Orlando Resort. After their trip south, the funny family would appear in the 2004 edition of the Parade, trailing behind the Super Grover balloon. After this appearance, the balloonhead unit was temporarily retired from the main Parade.

Although the family no longer made appearances in the main Parade, the first versions Mama, Papa and Baby would become commonplace in the Holiday Parade until 2008.

The Mama, Papa and Baby balloonheads, alongside their costumes, were refurbished in 2009, and returned to the Parade that very same year. In addition to receiving an updated paint job, the family would don all-new winter apparel.

The baby's outfit changed from a diaper and bib to a snug onesie, and a green holiday scarf with a small snowman embroidered on the front. The mama balloonhead now wore a red velvet fur coat, ditching the pearl necklace. The papa balloonhead wore maroon khaki slacks with a green button-down coat, topped off with a green bowtie added. These versions of Mama, Papa and Baby were retired shortly after the 2011 Parade.

These versions of the balloonheads also appeared in the Macy's Holiday Parade from 2009 until 2014.

In 2015, entirely-new costumes and balloonheads of the Parade-loving family would be made. While the costumes remained virtually the same, the balloonheads were given an updated paintjob, now adding in blush, shading and finely-detailed hair. These freshly-made balloonheads would fly south once again just weeks later to appear in the Macy's Holiday Parade. They were retired shortly after the 2016 run of the Parade, in order to make way for the entirely-new Universal's Holiday Parade Featuring Macy's.

Despite the balloonheads no longer travelling south for the holidays, the balloonheads would continue to appear in the Parade.

In 2018, the Papa balloonhead was noticeably absent from the line of march, leaving the Mama and Baby balloonheads to travel by themselves. The following year, all balloonhead units were grounded due to high winds. The Mama, Papa and Baby balloonheads were originally scheduled to appear behind the Western Carolina University Marching Band.