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NEW YORK (WABC) — The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicked off Thursday morning in New York City with a steady rain that added ponchos and umbrellas to the lineup of balloons, floats and star-studded performances.
The annual holiday tradition features new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, performances from Jennifer Hudson and Idina Menzel, and more.
The parade was briefly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters who stopped the parade at Sixth Avenue and West 55th Street.
The NYPD moved in quickly to make arrests before the parade continued on.
The lineup for this year’s parade is a far cry from its initial incarnation a century ago, which featured floats showing scenes from Mother Goose, Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Miss Muffet and the Spider, and other fairy tales.
Some things remain the same, though. As in 1924, there are plenty of marching bands and lots of clowns, followed by the grand finale of Santa Claus riding through Manhattan and ushering in the holiday season.
This year’s parade features 17 giant, helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.
One new float spotlights Rao’s food brand, featuring a knight and a dragon in battle made with actual pasta elements. Another celebrates the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with representations of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra and a gorilla.
“The work that we do, the opportunity to impact millions of people and bring a bit of joy for a couple of hours on Thanksgiving morning, is what motivates us every day,” said Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer.
The parade began at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away around noon at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for performances.
The rain isn’t stopping anything – the parade has only been canceled three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II – but organizers are monitoring wind speeds throughout the festivities to make sure it’s safe for the big balloons to fly.
Temperatures are in the upper 40s degrees F, with rain throughout the morning and winds around 10 mph (16 kph), well within the acceptable range for letting Snoopy, Bluey and their friends soar. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying the full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 kph) or wind gusts are over 35 mph (56 kph).
SECURITY
Spectators were told to avoid bringing large bags, umbrellas, backpacks, and strollers.
Officials say there is no specific threat. The NYPD will have sanitation trucks and other so-called “blocker vehicles” deployed along the route.
STREET CLOSURES
Mass transit is strongly recommended if you are going to the balloon inflation event on Wednesday or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.
Not only is heavy traffic anticipated because of the holiday, but also many streets will be closed.
Street closures begin Wednesday morning ahead of the balloon inflation on the Upper West Side.
Find the list of street closures and other details here.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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