Earl the Squirrel heads to New York
Amusement Today first reported that Universal Orlando Resort’s Earl the Squirrel will make his balloon debut in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on 26 November, before later joining Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida. The move gives one of Universal Orlando’s best-known holiday characters a spot in a centennial parade and ties the New York appearance directly back to the resort’s seasonal programme in Florida.
How Earl fits into Universal’s holiday season
Universal Orlando Resort already places Earl inside its 2026 holiday line-up. On the resort’s official holiday page, Universal lists an Earl the Squirrel meet-and-greet at Universal Studios Florida, alongside Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s. The broader celebration runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and also includes Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across three theme parks, Grinchmas, Snoggletog at How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and festive décor at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
A centennial parade moment
Macy’s says the 100th Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on Thursday, 26 November, marking a century of the event. That puts Earl’s balloon debut into a milestone year for the parade itself, before the character returns to Orlando for Universal’s own holiday parade. For Universal Orlando, it extends Earl’s role beyond meet-and-greets and seasonal décor into one of the best-known holiday broadcasts in the United States.
What happens next
The next confirmed date is 26 November, when Earl the Squirrel is due to appear in New York as a balloon for the first time. After that, he will join Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida, adding a new chapter to a character that is already built into the resort’s holiday offering.
