Earl the Squirrel Is Getting His Own Macy’s Parade Balloon
Universal Orlando’s Earl the Squirrel Balloon debuts Nov. 26 in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, then joins Universal’s Holiday Parade in December.
The squirrel who spent years stealing Christmas lights at Universal Studios Florida will soon stand 30 feet tall and appear on national television. Universal Orlando Resort announced today that the Earl the Squirrel balloon will make its debut in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. It is the first time the Orlando resort has ever had its own dedicated balloon in the New York City parade.
Not bad for a rodent whose original claim to fame was a light strand theft ring operating out of a single Christmas tree. After New York, Earl comes home to Orlando and joins Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida starting in early December.
From Christmas Tree Burglar to Holiday Icon
Earl’s backstory is real, which is the best part. Nearly two decades ago, Universal Orlando’s Entertainment team found an actual squirrel nesting in the branches of the big Christmas tree at Universal Studios Florida. That squirrel had a very specific taste in décor: blue Christmas lights, which it kept pulling off the tree and hauling back to its nest.
The real culprit was humanely relocated, but the story became an inside joke among team members, who started tucking a squirrel figure into the tree for guests to spot. Fans kept looking for him every year, and by 2021 Earl had graduated into a walkaround meet and greet character with his own merchandise line.
Universal visual designer Rob Cametti is the one who turned a real squirrel into a cartoon. Earl’s plaid, flap-eared winter hat was inspired by Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and his look borrows from classic rubber hose cartoons in the Betty Boop tradition. Universal creative Lora Sauls summed up his rise to Entertainment Weekly:
“Earl has risen to the status of Universal Studios Florida’s Christmas icon. He started as a real, little squirrel in our Christmas tree who loved chewing on some blue lights, and it grew in the fandom.”
The Earl the Squirrel Balloon by the Numbers
According to Universal, the new balloon stands 30.4 feet tall and 14.5 feet wide. It shows Earl clutching a blue Christmas light (of course) while wearing his signature winter cap. Macy’s parade creative director Brendan Kennedy told EW the balloon was built from pieces heat steamed together and then hand painted in its final form.
Earl is not flying solo, either. Universal is sending a full parade unit to Manhattan with backup dancers, balloon handlers and a dancing acorn. The balloon also went through sketches, 3D modeling, and flight testing before getting its paint job. Yes, a dancing acorn. We have questions, and we would like every one of them answered live on NBC.
The Earl the Squirrel Balloon Will Have Neighbors
Since NBC broadcasts the parade, the 100th edition is stacked with NBCUniversal characters. Universal says viewers will also see balloons for DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek, Gabby’s Dollhouse and Underdog, Illumination’s Minions, and Felix the Cat, who debuted in 1927 as the very first character balloon in parade history. Sorcerer Mickey and Bluey are also among the balloons sharing the sky with Earl this year.
How to Watch Earl in the Macy’s Parade
The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo. Parade details are available at Macy’s official parade site.
Where to Find Earl at Universal Orlando
You do not need a plane ticket to New York to celebrate the little guy. Here is what Universal has lined up this holiday season:
- Park parade balloon: The Earl balloon joins Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida starting in early December.
- Meet and greets: Starting Nov. 14, Earl meets guests daily at Universal Studios Florida and on weekends at Universal CityWalk.
- Earl’s Hazelnut Dot Cake: A chocolate cake with hazelnut spread, topped with toasted hazelnuts and red and green dot sprinkles, sold in Universal Studios Florida
- Holiday Tribute Store: This year’s Holiday Tribute Store at Universal Studios Florida is themed to a century of Macy’s parade moments, with all new Earl apparel, accessories and collectibles.
Earl merch has come a long way. Back in 2020, the big Earl release was a $15 Tree Farm logo mug at that same Holiday Tribute Store. Now he has a balloon. We can that growth.
Universal Orlando Holidays 2026 at a Glance
Universal Orlando’s holiday celebration runs from Nov. 14, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027, and is included with regular theme park admission. Highlights include Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across all three parks, Grinchmas in Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida. Epic Universe is also adding holiday décor to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk for the first time, while Celestial Park’s winter look returns.
For an upcharge, the Universal Holiday Tour is a two and a half hour guided tour of the holiday offerings at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure (park to park access required). Universal is also offering a 3-Day Ticket covering all three theme parks from $99 per day, plus tax.
| What | When | Where |
| Earl balloon debut | Thu., Nov. 26, 2026, 8:30 a.m. (all time zones) | NBC, Peacock, Telemundo (New York City route) |
| Universal Orlando Holidays | Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027 | All three Universal Orlando theme parks |
| Earl meet and greets | From Nov. 14: daily (USF), weekends (CityWalk) | Universal Studios Florida and Universal CityWalk |
| Earl balloon in park parade | Starting early December | Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, USF |
| Earl’s Hazelnut Dot Cake | Holiday season | Universal Studios Florida |
| New Earl merchandise | Holiday season | Holiday Tribute Store, USF |
We Love Earl and Are Looking Forward to Seeing the Earl the Squirrel Balloon
This one is well earned. Universal Studios Florida has been running a holiday parade built around Macy’s balloons for years, but every one of those balloons belonged to somebody else’s story. Earl is a homegrown character born from a real park moment, and putting him on the biggest Thanksgiving stage in the country is exactly the kind of quirky, fan driven move that makes theme park traditions stick.
One practical note for anyone planning a trip around this: the Holidays event starts Nov. 14, but the balloon will not be in the park parade until early December, since it is busy being famous in New York first. If seeing the actual Earl balloon is the goal, book for December. If you just want a hug from Earl and a slice of Hazelnut Dot Cake, mid November works fine.
For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.
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