Earl the Squirrel will become Universal Orlando Resort’s first balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade when he takes flight in New York on Nov. 26.
After the New York parade, the balloon will head to Universal Studios Florida and join Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s in early December. Universal has not announced an exact Orlando parade date.
Entertainment Weekly first reported the plans Wednesday morning after interviewing Universal creative Lora Sauls and Macy’s creative director Brendan Kennedy. Sauls said Universal is bringing the full Earl unit to New York, including backup dancers and the dancing acorn seen in Orlando.
Kennedy said the balloon was hand-painted after design and construction work at Macy’s Parade Studio, then put through flight testing. Earl carries his familiar blue Christmas light bulb and wears his red-and-black trapper hat.
Universal’s Orlando holiday season runs from Nov. 14 through Jan. 3. Earl’s New York debut lands midway through that run, so the squirrel will miss the first stretch of the Florida parade while preparing for the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Earl the Squirrel is taking flight alongside his familiar Universal Orlando character in the 17-second clip.
Watch Universal Orlando’s Earl the Squirrel balloon video on X.