See a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Float Up Close in Meridian

After the Struttin' for Stuffin' 10K, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is my favorite Thanksgiving tradition! I'm always fascinated by them talking about what it takes to get those monster inflatables down the parade route.

Well, now you've got a chance to get up close and personal with one of those famous floats as it makes it's way to the party in New York City! You've seen the fiberglass dinos standing proudly outside Sinclair gas stations across the Treasure Valley for years, but did you know there's a giant inflatable version of "Dino" that started appearing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1963?  Kids and adults quickly fell in love with him and 12 years later, the balloon was chosen as an Honorary Member of the Museum of Natural History. The original balloon retired in 1976.

To celebrate 100 years in business, Sinclair created a brand new 72-foot-long "Dino" balloon and returned to the parade in 2015.  They also created a new tradition of taking the "Dino" balloon on a tour of the country on his way to New York City.  The tour is called "Dino 2 NYC" and it's stopping in the Treasure Valley on Wednesday, November 8th!

Want to take a photo with "Dino?" You can find him at the Sinclair Station at 1410 McMillan Road from 3-5 p.m. Just for snapping a photo with him, you'll be entered in for a chance to see his appearance in the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The first 25 people who show up will take home a "Go DINO Go" t-shirt!