Have you spotted them?

If you've been walking around downtown Albany lately, you may have noticed something a little strange: red balloons popping out of sewer grates.

Photos of the unusual sight near the Palace Theatre recently made their way onto Reddit, where local residents quickly recognized the eerie imagery.

Red Balloons Downtown??
by u/salb80 in Albany

The balloons appear to be a tribute to Tim Curry, the legendary actor best known to horror fans for playing Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King's It. Curry died August 25 at age 80, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans around the world.

And honestly, if you're going to honor Pennywise, red balloons coming out of a sewer grate is about as on-the-nose as it gets.

A Pennywise tribute in downtown Albany?

The connection hasn't been officially confirmed by whoever placed the balloons, but the timing and imagery have made the explanation pretty convincing.

In It, Pennywise famously uses red balloons to lure children toward the sewers of Derry. The balloon has since become one of the most recognizable symbols associated with the character — and with the story's enduring place in horror culture.

Similar red-balloon tributes have also appeared in other communities following Curry's death, making Albany's display seem less like a random prank and more like a fan-created memorial.

For Albany residents, there's an added layer of atmosphere. Seeing a bright red balloon floating above a storm drain downtown is the kind of thing that's perfectly ordinary for about half a second — until you remember exactly what it references.

Remembering Tim Curry

While Pennywise may be the role getting the most attention from horror fans, Curry's career was remarkably diverse.

He became a cult favorite as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and went on to appear in films including Clue, Annie and Home Alone 2, along with an extensive career on stage and television.

For many fans, though, his performance as Pennywise remains unforgettable.

So if you spot one of those red balloons around downtown Albany, there's probably no need to panic.

It's apparently just a little bit of horror history floating through the Capital Region.

Although, given the source material…

Maybe don't follow it into the sewer. 🎈