Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off in steady rain a century after its first trip through NYC
NEW YORK– 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 includes new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, an ode to Big Apple coffee and bagels, performances by Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel and Kylie Minogue, and more.
The lineup is a stark departure from the parade’s first incarnation a century ago, with floats depicting scenes from Mother Goose, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Miss Muffet and the Spider, and other fairy tales.
However, some things remain the same. Just like in 1924, there are many marching bands and many clowns, followed by the grand finale in which Santa Claus rides through Manhattan and ushers in the holidays.
This year’s parade features 17 giant helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 new and historic inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.
Other highlights include being a reality TV star Ariana Madix, hip hop T-pain, country duo Dan + Shay, The war and the treaty, The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Broadway veteran Lea Salonga, and “Glow” actor and Macy’s spokesperson Alison Brie.
A new float puts the spotlight on it Rao’s food brand, featuring a knight and a dragon in battle, made with real pasta elements. Another celebrates the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with images of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra and a gorilla.
“The work we do, the opportunity to impact millions of people and bring a few hours of joy on Thanksgiving morning, is what motivates us every day,” said Will Coss, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The parade started at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends four miles away around noon at the Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for performances.
The rain doesn’t stop anything – the parade has only been canceled three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II – but organizers keep an eye on wind speeds during the festivities to make sure it’s safe for the big balloons to fly to fly.
Temperatures are around 40 degrees Celsius, with rain during the morning and wind speeds of about 10 miles per hour, well within the acceptable range for Snoopy, Bluey and their friends to fly. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 km per hour) or if gusts exceed 35 mph (56 km per hour).
The parade will be broadcast on NBC with host Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb And Al Roker and streams on the network’s Peacock service. Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza will host a Spanish simulcast on Telemundo.