Perhaps the most disastrous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade occurred in 1997, when an accident involving a Cat in the Hat balloon resulted in multiple injuries, a $395 million lawsuit, and a mayoral task that led to sweeping reforms in terms of balloon size, volunteer training, and even streetlight design.

At the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, memories resurfaced of Barney's infamous 1997 balloon collapse—still remembered as 'the day that Barney died'.