Earl the Squirrel Becomes Universal Orlando's First-Ever Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon

A character born from a squirrel who got caught chewing the lights on a Christmas tree is about to float down the streets of Manhattan. Earl the Squirrel will be Universal Orlando Resort's first-ever balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and he debuts at the parade's 100th edition on Thursday, November 26.

Entertainment Weekly revealed the balloon as an exclusive on the morning of Wednesday, October 28, and WDW News Today followed shortly after.

Macy's art card for the new Earl the Squirrel balloon, listing Universal Orlando Resort as the creative partner. Image: Universal Orlando Resort via Entertainment Weekly

The whole unit is going to New York

Earl will have company. "We're going to bring the whole unit," Universal creative Lora Sauls told Entertainment Weekly. According to EW, that means backup dancers, balloon handlers and a dancing acorn joining the balloon in New York.

The Macy's art card for the balloon lists its dimensions as 14.54 feet wide, 27.3 feet long and 30.4 feet high. In balloon form, Earl hugs a giant blue lightbulb, a nod to how the whole legend started.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade creative director Brendan Kennedy told EW, "The lore of the lights is really what we latched onto." EW says the finished balloon is made of pieces that are heat-steamed together and hand-painted.

The 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs live on NBC on November 26 at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT.

From tree vandal to holiday icon

"Earl has risen to the status of Universal Studios Florida's Christmas icon," Sauls told EW. "He started as a real, little squirrel in our Christmas tree who loved chewing on some blue lights, and it grew in the fandom."

As the story goes, per EW, technicians found the blue lights on the big Universal Studios Florida Christmas tree chewed up, repaired them, and found them damaged again the next day. Cameras eventually showed the culprit was a squirrel, who was humanely rehomed. Team members then began tucking a small squirrel figurine into the tree, and spotting it turned into a yearly scavenger hunt for guests. By 2021, Earl had his own merchandise line and a costumed character at the park.

His look has a fun backstory too. Universal visual design and retail creative Rob Cametti told EW the plaid hat with flaps was partly inspired by Cousin Eddie: "Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation, that was one of the inspirations for his hat!" Cametti also credited the old "rubber hose cartoon" style, the look of characters like Betty Boop.

Earl the Squirrel meeting guests in front of a Christmas tree at Universal Orlando. Image: Universal Orlando Resort via Entertainment Weekly

When you can see Earl in Orlando

After New York, Earl heads home to join Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's at Universal Studios Florida. Universal Holidays runs November 14 through January 3 at Universal Orlando Resort, but EW and WDW News Today both say Earl will not appear in the park parade until after his Thanksgiving Day debut.

Before then, EW says guests can browse new merchandise in the Holiday Tribute Store and meet Earl as a costumed character. Earl's return as a meet and greet was already on Universal's holiday list, as we noted on October 19.

Santa on Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's in a past season. Earl joins this parade after Thanksgiving. Image: Universal Orlando Resort

Will you be watching for Earl on Thanksgiving morning, or waiting to catch him in the park parade?

Sources

• Entertainment Weekly, "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade first look: See Universal Orlando's debut balloon marking 100-year milestone (exclusive)" (October 28, 2026)
• WDW News Today, "Earl the Squirrel to Debut as Universal Orlando's First Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Before Joining Park Parade" (October 28, 2026)
• Parks Magic, October 19, 2026 Universal holiday lineup coverage

Image credits: Universal Orlando Resort via Entertainment Weekly (balloon art card and Earl meet and greet); Universal Orlando Resort (holiday parade).