11 Facts About Being a Balloon Handler at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Every Thanksgiving, as families across the United States are lazily tuning into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from their living rooms, there are thousands of volunteers who have been awake for hours, braving the frigid streets of New York City dressed in costume.

This is the experience of a balloon handler: They compose a massive team of volunteers tapped every year to help ensure that the parade’s iconic floats make it down Central Park West, past Columbus Circle, along 6th Avenue, and culminate at Herald Square smoothly and safely. 

But what exactly do balloon handlers do? And how do you become one?

PEOPLE spoke with two former balloon handlers, Vicky De Cardenas and Meghan Simonette, who answered all of your burning questions about the storied parade.

You need a connection at Macy’s to become a balloon handler

For De Cardenas, who was a balloon handler last year, her sister worked at the department store as a beauty buyer — and she was able to nab a spot in the parade for herself, De Cardenas and their dad. Simonette was sponsored by a friend of hers who worked for Macy’s.

To submit your name, says Simonette, applicants send in measurements of their body, a headshot and write a short paragraph explaining why they want to volunteer. Then you wait for an email from Macy’s letting you know whether you’ve been selected.

Balloon handlers don’t get to choose the balloon they are assigned to

After you receive the initial confirmation that you have been selected as a balloon handler, you’ll receive a series of emails with more information leading up to the big day, including one that informs you of your balloon assignment.

According to Simonette, she, her sister and her parents — who all volunteered as balloon handlers together the past two years — were told that they couldn’t even be guaranteed the same float, but they have luckily gotten assignments together both years that they’ve volunteered.

Balloon handlers have the option to attend a training in September, hosted at an NFL stadium

In September, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., just outside of N.Y.C., the parade’s organizers hold a training, where balloon handlers can get a feel for operating the floats: how to raise and lower the balloons using their ropes, and what whistles and hand signals they need to follow from their group pilot.

“It’s not super straightforward,” admits Simonette. “I’m glad we did the training.”

But the practice isn’t mandatory: De Cardenas, who lives in Florida, was able to learn everything she needed to know the morning of the parade.

Balloon handling is a volunteer position

“I think it’s a really fun aspect of it,” says Simonette. “Everyone really wants to be there.”

Balloon handlers’ call time depends on their float assignment — but can be as early as 5 a.m.

Simonette, who was assigned to a float near the front of the parade, had a call time of 4:45 a.m., but De Cardenas, who had a float towards the end, could arrive around 6:15 a.m.

Those call times don’t factor in travel time to Midtown Manhattan, the meeting point where balloon handlers congregate to get into costume before the parade kicks off.

Balloon handlers all wear a costume and are encouraged to dress as warmly as possible underneath

All balloon handlers are assigned a costume — essentially a giant bib that goes over their normal clothes.

While there are no rules about what they can or cannot wear underneath the bib, says Simonette, they were strongly advised to layer, since balloon handlers are standing outside for hours and temperatures can get nippy on Thanksgiving in N.Y.C. 

Balloon handlers all meet for the first time the morning of the parade

While you might meet some of the balloon handlers at the practice in September, you don’t actually meet the other handlers assigned to your balloon until the morning of the parade. But for those who want to make those connections ahead of time, shares Simonette, there’s an app for handlers to chat remotely.

“My mom’s real active in that chat, getting to know people,” laughs Simonette.

Balloon handlers cannot go to the bathroom during the parade

“Not sure if this is TMI, but the last time you can go to the bathrooms is before getting on the buses, which for us was around 5:30,” says Simonette. “Then you can’t go again until noon.”

She adds, laughing, “It’s a little stressful.”

Balloon handlers are not guaranteed to be featured on the live broadcast

There’s no guarantee that a balloon handler will make it onto the TV broadcast — and in her first year, Simonette says, even though she told all of her friends to look for her, she didn’t nab any screen time.

“I was determined last year, and we got on TV,” she continues. “I was jumping in the back.”

Balloon handlers are asked not to film during the parade

The main rule balloon handlers are supposed to follow is refraining from filming during the parade — though De Cardenas admits that her dad may have broken the rule a bit.

“He just wanted to see his girls in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, so you’re not technically supposed to do it, but I wanted it for the memories,” she says. “I was just happy to be around there.”

Balloon handlers are not guaranteed a spot in the following year’s parades

Simonette learned this the hard way when her family applied for their third year in a row and was not accepted.

“You’re not grandfathered in, so we’re on the waitlist this year,” she says. “Every year, you need to reapply.” 

But she and her family have their fingers crossed that they’ll be selected next year, since the parade will be celebrating its 100th anniversary.