A century after the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the annual holiday tradition kicks off Thursday in New York City with new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, performances from Jennifer Hudson and Idina Menzel, and more.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade New York Police arrest Pro-Palestinian protesters who were demonstrating on Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
APTOPIX Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Handlers guide the SpongeBob SquarePants balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
APTOPIX Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Handlers guide the Goku balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
APTOPIX Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade People watch handlers guide the Ronald McDonald balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade The Marshall from PAW Patrol balloon floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade The Gabby and Pandy balloon floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade The Kung Fu Panda balloon floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Spectators watch from an apartment balcony as Disney’s Minnie Mouse balloon floats by on Central Park West during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Spectators watch in the rain as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade travels down Central Park West, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Spectators watch from an apartment window as the Sinclair’s Dino balloon passes by during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Handlers pull the Bluey balloon down Central Park West during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Handlers pull the Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloon down Central Park West during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Handlers guide the Ronald McDonald balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Handlers guide Disney’s Minnie Mouse balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Pedestrians cross Sixth Avenue ahead of the start of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate on Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade New York Police arrest Pro-Palestinian protesters who were demonstrating on Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade New York Police arrest Pro-Palestinian protesters who were demonstrating on Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade New York Police arrest Pro-Palestinian protesters who were demonstrating on Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate on Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Handlers pull the Stuart the Minion balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade The Macy’s Great American Marching Band plays as it heads down Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade New York Police arrest Pro-Palestinian protesters who were demonstrating on Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade New York Police arrest Pro-Palestinian protesters who were demonstrating on Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade The University of Massachusetts Minutemen marching band plays as it makes its way down Central Park West while participating in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
APTOPIX Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade The University of Massachusetts Minutemen marching band marches down Central Park West while participating in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Handlers pull the Ronald McDonald balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade People stand in the rain along Sixth Avenue ahead of the start of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
NEW YORK (AP) — The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marched, soared and roared into its second century on Thursday despite a drenching rain and a brief disruption from pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
New York City police said they arrested 21 people after protesters jumped barricades and sat down on the parade route with Palestinian flags and a “Don’t Celebrate Genocide” banner. They chanted “Free, free Palestine!” as a giant Ronald McDonald balloon bore down on them on Manhattan’s Sixth Avenue.
People protesting Israel’s war in Gaza also interrupted last year’s parade.
Thanks to the wet weather, ponchos and umbrellas were part of the festivities, along with the usual giant balloons, floats and star-studded performances.
The latest edition of the annual holiday tradition featured new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, an ode to Big Apple coffee and bagels, performances from Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel and Kylie Minogue, and more.
The lineup was a far cry from the parade’s initial incarnation 100 years 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 remained the same, though. As in 1924, there were plenty of marching bands and lots of clowns, followed by the grand finale of Santa Claus ushering in the holiday season.
This year’s parade featured 17 giant, helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands from as far away as Texas and South Dakota, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.
Other highlights included reality TV star Ariana Madix, hip-hop’s T-Pain, country duo Dan + Shay, The War and Treaty, The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Broadway veteran Lea Salonga, and “Glow” actor and Macy’s spokesperson Alison Brie.
One new float spotlighted the Rao’s food brand, featuring a knight and a dragon in battle made with actual pasta elements. Another celebrated 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 route stretched 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from Manhattan’s Upper West Side to Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which served as a performance backdrop.
NBC’s Al Roker walked part of the route before joining co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb outside the store for the remainder of the live TV coverage. “Wicked” film star Cynthia Erivo presented the retiring Kotb with flowers to commemorate what could be her last parade broadcast.
The rain didn’t stop anything — the parade has only been canceled three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II — but organizers monitored wind speeds to make sure the big balloons were safe to fly.
Temperatures hovered near 50 degrees F (10 degrees C), 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. City law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 kph) or wind gusts are over 35 mph (56 kph).
