NEW YORK (AP) — The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was crowded with people on the streets wearing raincoats and umbrellas, as well as the usual giant balloons, floats, and celebrity performances.
The most recent edition of the traditional annual celebration featured new balloons of Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse, zoo and pasta-themed floats, an ode to coffee and bagels from the Big Apple, as well as performances by Jennifer Hudson and Idina Menzel, Kylie Minogue, and more.
This year's lineup of stars was far from the first edition of the parade held a century ago, which featured floats showcasing scenes from Mother Goose, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Miss Muffet and the Spider, and other fairy tales.
However, some things do not change. Just like in 1924, there were many music bands and lots of clowns, followed by the grand finale of Santa Claus parading through Manhattan and kicking off the holiday season.
What was the highlight of the Thanksgiving Day parade?
This year's parade featured 17 giant helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 music bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and members of the New York Liberty, the champions of the professional women's basketball league WNBA.
They also highlighted performances by reality TV star Ariana Madix, hip-hop artist T-Pain, country duo Dan + Shay, The War and Treaty, The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Broadway veteran Lea Salonga, and "Glow" actress and Macy's spokesperson Alison Brie.
A new float highlighted the Rao's food brand, featuring a knight and a dragon in battle made with real pasta elements. Another float celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Bronx Zoo with representations of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra, and a gorilla.
"The work we do, the opportunity to impact millions of people and bring a little bit of joy for a couple of hours on Thanksgiving morning, is what motivates us every day," said Will Coss, executive producer of the Macy's parade.
The parade started at 8:30 a.m. in the Upper West Side of Manhattan and will end 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) further ahead around noon at the Macy's flagship store in Herald Square on 34th Street, which serves as the stage and backdrop for the performances.
The cold and rain made it difficult for the people who went to see the parade.
The rain wasn't going to stop anything. The parade has only been canceled on three occasions: from 1942 to 1944 during World War II. But the organizers were monitoring the wind speed during the celebration to ensure that there were no issues with the balloons.
The temperature in New York City was around 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit) with rain in the morning and winds of about 16 kilometers per hour (10 miles per hour), within an acceptable range to allow Snoopy, Bluey, and their friends to fly.
New York City law prohibits Macy's from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 37 km/h (23 mph) or gusts exceed 56 km/h (35 mph).
The parade was broadcasted by NBC with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker.