Drumroll, please! I can officially announce that I will be a Balloon Handler in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the Ronald McDonald balloon team! My call time on Thanksgiving Day is a bright and early 5:15 am, and I've been practicing my smile nonstop. I've been waiting years for this moment!

 

This wasn’t just any bucket list item — it was over a decade in the making. Since moving to New York City in 2011, our family has made it a tradition to watch the parade in person (and attend the Balloon Inflation the day before). Thanksgiving morning, we head to the parade route by 5:00 a.m., armed with freshly baked loaves of pumpkin banana bread, hot chocolate, and activities to pass the time. 

 

We count down the hours until the parade begins, soaking in the behind-the-scenes magic: bands warming up, crews adjusting traffic lights for towering balloons, and Al Roker cruising by in his golf cart, hyping the crowd. Our favorite spot? Central Park West near the iconic San Remo, where the sidewalk buzzes with parade spirit.

 

Last year, after sharing my Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade insider's guide on Instagram, a longtime follower — who also happened to work for the Macy’s Communications Department — helped us secure parade grandstand seats on the Upper West Side and invited us to a preview event for “Macy's Santaland.” When we met, I joked, “I’d be the most enthusiastic balloon handler ever.” She smiled and said, “I may be able to help.”

 

A few months later, my wish came true.

 

Becoming a balloon handler isn’t easy — and the process is a well-kept secret. But this is Behind the Stories, so let’s dive in!

 

There are two primary ways to become a balloon handler: work for Macy’s or be nominated by someone who does — but even then, selection isn’t guaranteed, as the roles are limited for this cherished Thanksgiving tradition.

 

The role itself is no small feat. It requires endurance, coordination, and a hefty dose of enthusiasm. To guide the larger-than-life balloons, each handler is navigating about 20 pounds of resistance for the full 2.5-mile parade route. It feels a bit like doing a full-body workout — with the streets of Manhattan as your gym. The email that I received yesterday from my balloon captain said to “dress so that you are very slightly chilled when you get outdoors" because we'll warm up naturally as we march, and if we are overdressed, we be too warm! 

 

After being selected, I dove headfirst into the process. First, there were the online training videos. Then I submitted detailed body measurements for the costume. Then I attended a practice session at MetLife Stadium. On a rainy Saturday (the parade goes on each year in spite of the weather), hundreds of us gathered, clutching the “bone” (a tool used to secure the balloon string) as we marched around the stadium, practicing the art of raising and lowering the balloon on command. 

 

Each balloon has a Pilot who precedes the balloon down the parade route, walking backwards and giving the handlers hand signals to follow based on wind speed and direction, and a Captain, who is positioned in the center of the balloon handlers to assist with handler placement and conveying the pilot's commands to the team. There is also a vehicle team for each balloon (which are attached to a utility vehicle with an anchor line for stability) and an NYPD officer to accompany each balloon!

 

Our training covered lots of different scenarios: maneuvering around obstacles, handling an escort vehicle breakdown, and responding if a fellow handler became injured or ill. We also learned the mechanics of deflation — each balloon is divided into multiple chambers, so that if one section deflates the rest of the balloon remains intact. After reaching Herald Square on parade day, balloon handlers also assist with the balloon’s full deflation, ensuring everything is safely packed away.

 

During the practice session, the buzz was all about the bathrooms — or the lack of them. Our call times are early in the morning, and depending on your balloon’s spot in the lineup, it can be nearly 7 hours from arrival to finish time. You can’t leave until your balloon is deflated and your costume is returned. Veteran handlers shared their strategy: watch what you eat the day before, skip the coffee, and plan ahead! 

 

They also emphasized the importance of looking away during the deflation process to avoid inhaling helium, which can cause fainting. Not the way you want to end the parade! It was a reminder of how seriously we need to approach this important job. 

 

I also learned one of the cardinal rules of balloon etiquette: never say, “It's time to blow up the balloons!” The proper language is always “inflate the balloons!”

 

Even with the rain soaking through my jacket, the thrill of holding that balloon, even in a parking lot, was undeniable. There’s something about the shared teamwork of the balloon handling process that felt like freedom — we were navigating the balloon, and it was soaring unburdened, light, and utterly magical. 

 

Balloons have always held a special place in my heart. As a kid, I’d scream “Balloon! Balloon!” with uncontainable (and loud) joy every time I saw one, to the point where my parents intentionally tried to avoid taking me to stores that sold them. That same childlike excitement hit me during training as I learned to follow the signals of the balloon captain, and move in sync with other handlers to guide the balloon safely. I imagined creating joy for millions lining the streets or watching from home.

 

 

I've been told there is a deep sense of camaraderie among the handlers as you march past the cheering crowds, and I'm looking forward to this one-of-a-kind experience! Guiding this balloon along the parade route is a dream come true, and I hope you'll cheer me on, whether from the sidewalks or from your couch at home. 

 

This is a story still being written! 

 

Balloons We Carry: What’s a dream or goal or idea that you've held on to for years, like a balloon waiting to be inflated? It doesn't have to remain secured under nets or held down by sandbags. Imagine taking one bold step today to  let it soar. 

P.S. The holiday season can feel like carrying a balloon through a windstorm—filled with joy but being blown around by expectations. When you preorder my book Tidy Up Your Life, you can also get my Holiday “Surthrival” Guide bonus that I hope can help you ease the burden and focus on what matters most - right now! You can preorder and learn more here! 

P.P.S. - If you want to read previous editions of this “Behind the Stories” series, check out the archives!