Falloon (float + balloon)

A “falloon” is a combination float/balloon; the term was introduced at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The first “falloon” was introduced to the parade about 1990—although some claim that the “falloon” term dates to the 1980s.
   
An alternative name for a balloon/float—“bloat”—was disregarded (see below).
 
 
Wikipedia: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade presented by Macy’s Department store. The three-hour event is held in New York City starting at 9:00 a.m. EST on Thanksgiving.
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Balloonicle and Falloon Introductions
A falloon (“F”; a portmanteau of “float” and “balloon”) is a float-based balloon. A balloonicle (“B”; a portmanteau of “balloon” and “vehicle”) is a self-powered balloon vehicle.
 
2006: Energizer Bunny (B)
2005: SnowBo (B)
2004: Weebles (B) - (3) Tibby, Tooey, Bumpus
 
Dictionary.com
Main Entry:  falloon
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  a combination cold-air balloon and parade float
Example:  Falloons are a Macy’s Parade invention.
Etymology:  2004
Note:  ?
Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)
Copyright © 2003-2008 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC
   
NYCTourist.com
THE FLOATS AND FALLOONS, THE DRIVING FORCES OF THE
MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE ® HIT THE ROAD
Hang on for the ride of a lifetime as a new fleet of fantastic floats and falloons ride down the Great White Way on Thanksgiving. Hitting the streets on cruise control into the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ® are scenes from a fantastic road trip. From ancient Egypt to a Caribbean Island, these floats will transport the millions of Parade spectators and viewers back in time or to another place. The magicians at the Macy’s Parade Studio have raised the creative bar this year as they continue to showcase their imagination, artistry and engineering talent aboard the fleet of 27 floats and falloons (a Macy’s Parade hybrid of cold air balloon and float) that have been revved up to be huge hits when they hit the road on Parade Day. 
 
23 November 1995, Placerville (CA) Mountain-Democrat, pg. A9, col. 2:
First introduced to the Parade 1990. a “falloon” is a hybrid which combines a float and a balloon into one spectacular mobile unit.
     
New York (NY) Daily News
NOVEMBER THEM TO HERALD SQ.
By RICHARD HUFF
Saturday, November 23th 1996, 2:01AM
Although the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade may be best known for its trademark giant helium balloons, the event is also a big attraction for celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds as well.
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Along the 2.5-mile parade route, spectators will see such stars as Bo Diddley on a turkey float; Joey, Matthew and Andy Lawrence on a chocolate-themed float; NBC star Lea Thompson aboard a Sea Venture “falloon” a combo balloon and float; Olympic skater Oksana Baiul on a Mother Goose float; comic Elayne Boosler on an “Alice in Wonderland”-themed float, and Yankees on the familiar Big Apple float.
 
New York (NY) Times
And Now, a Balloon From Our Sponsor
By LESLIE EATON
Published: November 24, 1999  
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So the dog, who has no name other than ‘‘the Pets.com sock-puppet dog,’’ will be a 36-foot-tall ‘‘falloon,’’ which is what Macy’s calls a balloon that rides on a float.
   
New York (NY) Daily News
TAKING THE PULSE
BY KELLYE M. GARRETT
Saturday, November 18th 2000, 2:15AM
The 74th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is as synonymous with the holiday as turkey. The 2.5-mile parade, which begins at Central Park West and 77th St. at 9 a.m., will be broadcast live on NBC.
 
What’s New: This year, five new floats, including the Three Little Pigs, and the debut of the “falloon” (half float, half balloon).
 
New York (NY) Times
JERSEY FOOTLIGHTS
By MARGO NASH
Published: February 10, 2002
Falloons and Bloats
It may be February, but preparations for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade go on all year at the Macy’s Parade Studio in Hoboken.
 
Today at 3 p.m., two studio artisans, John Cheney and Gail McLauglin, will give a talk at the Hoboken Historical Museum about making floats, balloons and falloons—which is what you get when you cross a balloon with a float. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a falloon.
 
’‘We thought of calling them ‘bloats,’ but that just didn’t sound right.’’ explained John Piper, vice president of the studio.
 
The museum is also presenting an exhibition about the studio, which includes scale models, designs and photographs of Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Snoopy and other beloved balloons, and runs through Feb. 24. Information: (201) 656-2240.
 
New York Scooter Forum
aawatters
Post subject: Interesting Parade Facts
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 3:24 pm
From my warm comfy position on the couch I learned some interesting Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Facts.
 
(According to the announcers on CBS and NBC, definitely correct me if I got something wrong)
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A “Falloon” is a combo float and balloon; word created in the 1980s