![\"Earl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/macys-earl-the-squirrel-balloon.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDespite a years-long collaboration with Macy\u2019s on their own in-park holiday parade<\/a>, Universal Orlando Resort has never had a dedicated balloon in the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Not only will Earl the Squirrel fly over the streets of New York City, Universal will bring a whole unit from their holiday parade to the Big Apple, including backup dancers, balloon handlers, and a dancing acorn.<\/p>\n After his stint in the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, Earl will join Universal\u2019s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy\u2019s at Universal Studios Florida. The park parade runs from November 14 through January 3, but Earl won\u2019t appear until after the Thanksgiving Day Parade.<\/p>\n \u201cEarl has risen to the status of Universal Studios Florida\u2019s 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,\u201d Universal creative Lora Sauls told Entertainment Weekly<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to Universal legend, many years ago Universal technicians and artists discovered broken wires on the Universal Studios Florida Christmas tree. After fixing the wires, they returned the next day to find the same problem. Eventually, they caught a squirrel chewing on the wires.<\/p>\n The squirrel was humanely rehomed, said Sauls, but became an inside joke with Universal team members. They started placing a squirrel figure inside the park\u2019s tree, which guests noticed. Earl the Squirrel\u2019s popularity grew until he was introduced as a costumed character<\/a> with his own merchandise in 2021.<\/p>\n Universal visual design and retail creative Rob Cametti took Earl from a real squirrel to a cartoon character.<\/p>\n \u201cI said, \u2018I need a squirrel,\u2019\u201d Cametti told EW. \u201cI gave him three references. One of the references, if you look at the hat that he wears, it\u2019s a plaid hat with flaps. Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation, that was one of the inspirations for his hat!\u201d<\/p>\n He also took inspiration from \u201crubber hose cartoon\u201d characters like Betty Boop.<\/p>\n When it came to turning Earl into a balloon, Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade creative director Brendan Kennedy said, \u201cThe lore of the lights is really what we latched onto. How do we bring his trusty lightbulb with him and create a new balloon? It all starts with a sketch, which gets 3D modeled. We do a little bit of flight testing to make sure it can fly well. We wanted to make sure we got the character just right, but also that he could fly perfectly!\u201d<\/p>\n The helium balloon consists of pieces heat-steamed together and hand-painted.<\/p>\n See Earl the Squirrel, as well as Bluey<\/a> and Sorcerer Mickey<\/a>, fly over Manhattan on November 26 at 8:30 a.m. ET on NBC.<\/p>\n Read more about the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort<\/a>.<\/p>\n Are you excited about the Earl the Squirrel balloon? Let us know on social media.<\/p>\n For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n