Gothamist: Tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Windy, With A Bit Of Grover

tien

Thu, 25 Nov 2004 09:08:13 -0500

i too believe the 1998 accident was the one that caused more changes. my cousin and i actually worked the 1999 parade on the rugrats balloon (she worked for macy's and their employees are encouraged to work on the parade) and she was telling me about all the training they had to go through as she was a balloon captain.

LarimdaME

Thu, 25 Nov 2004 02:25:28 -0500

The 1998 incident is more relevant, because the new wind/balloon restrictions were put in place after that incident. If I recall correctly, this was a good thing as there was talk of doing away with the balloons altogether. One change that is not often noted is that the balloons now also have size restrictions. My (admittedly faulty) memory tells me that they had to retire several balloons since they were now too large. Anyhoo, it was a great night to be out. Very warm, no rain, minimal wind at most. The kids were having fun, the adults too, and more cameras then you could shake a stick at. Check out the balloons in waiting via flickr I *heart* flickr.

ugarte

Thu, 25 Nov 2004 00:22:04 -0500

Emily was right also: "In 1993, winds caused the 64-foot tall Sonic the Hedgehog to crash into a lamppost and explode. The falling debris injured an off-duty police officer and a 10-year-old girl." I found this article in, of all places, Lubbock Online.

tien

Wed, 24 Nov 2004 23:12:13 -0500

"The huge Cat in the Hat balloon got away from its handlers and slammed into a lamppost, raining debris down on spectators. Kathleen Caronna, 35, suffered a fractured skull in the accident and was in a coma for nearly a month." from a cnn article in 1998 (the year after)

rion

Wed, 24 Nov 2004 17:33:20 -0500

500 clowns?!?! ...really? 500??!!sounds like the number 1 reason to stay away. (um, scary.)

emily

Wed, 24 Nov 2004 13:38:42 -0500

FYI -- The balloon that knocked over the light pole was Sonic the Hedgehog. Since that year, they have better training for the "handlers" and they take wind measurements at the breezy street corners!