Pikachu has had four balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The first one (nicknamed "Flying Pikachu") ran from 2001 to 2005. The second one was a redesign that now featured him chasing a Poké Ball balloon and ran from 2006 to 2013. The third was another redesign featuring him wearing a green scarf and holding a small, Pikachu-shaped snowman, ran from 2014 to 2020. In 2021, the fourth balloon was introduced, featuring Pikachu and Eevee riding in a bobsled resembling a Poké Ball.

Pikachu is the second video game character to be featured in the parade after Sonic the Hedgehog in 1993.