Ronald's first balloon, which flew on and off from 1987 to 1994, features Ronald tumbling and partly upside down, holding three party balloons. The balloon was replaced in 2000 with a much simpler design, in which Ronald smiles and gives a thumbs-up gesture to the crowds. Ronald is still in his famous yellow jumpsuit. In 2008, a third balloon was introduced, this time fitting more with a winter theme. Ronald is wearing a green scarf and red ice skates. A fourth iteration of the balloon was introduced in 2015, dubbed "Circus Ronald" because of his bright red jacket (which the real-life Ronald also began wearing around this time). 

Since 2021, Ronald's balloon has reflected a more subtle role in the company. Wearing a suit with a red jacket, yellow pants, and a re-and-white-striped shirt, Ronald holds a heart, indicating his mission to spread joy around the world. 

Ronald's first balloon, which flew on and off from 1987 to 1994, features Ronald tumbling and partly upside down, holding three party balloons. The balloon was replaced in 2000 with a much simpler design, in which Ronald smiles and gives a  

Ronald's social media posts include selfies taken at locations around the world, showing off his new outfits, interacting with fans, and promoting McDonald's food. As for in-person appearances, he is still a regular at large events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and sports events such as McDonald's All-American Games. Recently, Ronald even made a visit to Capitol Hill with his pal Grimace for a Franchise Caucus kick-off meeting .

Of course, we haven't seen the last of Ronald. He still occasionally makes the odd appearance at sports games and events. He also makes a few posts here and there on social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok, where he can retain a presence and promote nostalgia for the brand. And while his presence remains undeniably family-friendly, it has shifted to be more focused on the adults who know him, rather than today's young kids who have had less exposure to the character. 

But despite these changes, criticism was still pointed squarely in Ronald's direction for advertising unhealthy food to kids, and he became a symbol for the rising childhood obesity rates. To combat this criticism, McDonald's began featuring Ronald in ads and a commercial campaign called "Activation Station," aimed at kids in an effort to get them moving. The commercials featured Ronald leading kids through simple exercises, like soccer warm-ups or a dance routine. He would then encourage the kids watching at home to get up and move with him. Unfortunately, these attempts did not fully win over the public and calls for Ronald to be retired continued into the 2010's.

thumbs-up gesture to the crowds. Ronald is still in his famous yellow jumpsuit. In 2008, a third balloon was introduced, this time fitting more with a winter theme. Ronald is wearing a green scarf and red ice skates. A fourth iteration of the balloon was introduced in 2015, dubbed "Circus Ronald" because of his bright red jacket (which the real-life Ronald also began wearing around this time).  

Ronald's first balloon, which flew on and off from 1987 to 1994, features Ronald tumbling and partly upside down, holding three party balloons. The balloon was replaced in 2000 with a much simpler design, in which Ronald smiles and gives a thumbs-up gesture to the crowds. Ronald is still in his famous yellow jumpsuit. In 2008, a third balloon was introduced, this time fitting more with a winter theme. Ronald is wearing a green scarf and red ice skates. A fourth iteration of the balloon was introduced in 2015, dubbed "Circus Ronald" because of his bright red jacket (which the real-life Ronald also began wearing around this time). 

Since 2021, Ronald's balloon has reflected a more subtle role in the company. Wearing a suit with a red jacket, yellow pants, and a re-and-white-striped shirt, Ronald holds a heart, indicating his mission to spread joy around the world as well .