Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Balloons, Rain, 21 Arrests

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade saw iconic balloons float through rainy weather, capturing the festive spirit despite challenging conditions. The event, which featured a variety of performances and floats, also saw 21 protesters arrested. Despite the wet weather, the parade went on, delivering a memorable celebration for millions of viewers. The incident highlights how both joyful moments and unexpected challenges can unfold during the beloved annual tradition.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade made its way into its second century on Thursday, defying heavy rain and a brief interruption by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. New York City police arrested 21 protesters who jumped barricades and sat on the parade route, holding Palestinian flags and a “Don’t Celebrate Genocide” banner while chanting “Free, free Palestine!” as the giant Ronald McDonald balloon passed by on Sixth Avenue.

Similar protests disrupted last year’s parade as well. Despite the wet conditions, ponchos and umbrellas became part of the festivities, along with the usual massive balloons, floats, and star-studded performances. The parade featured new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, a tribute to Big Apple coffee and bagels, as well as musical performances from Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel, and Kylie Minogue.

This year's celebration marked a shift from the parade's debut 100 years ago, when it showcased floats inspired by Mother Goose, Red Riding Hood, Miss Muffet, and other fairy tales. Despite the changes, some things remained the same, including marching bands and clowns, leading up to the grand finale with Santa Claus.

The 2024 parade included 17 giant, helium-filled balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands from states as far as Texas and South Dakota, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, and appearances from award-winning artists and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.

New highlights included a float for Rao’s food brand featuring a knight and dragon made of pasta elements, and another celebrating the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with depictions of animals like a tiger, giraffe, zebra, and gorilla.

Macy’s Parade executive producer Will Coss expressed that the team’s goal is to bring joy to millions, adding that this motivation keeps them going year after year. The parade’s 2.5-mile route ran from Manhattan’s Upper West Side to Macy’s Herald Square, where performances took place.

NBC’s Al Roker walked part of the route before joining co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb for the live broadcast. Actress Cynthia Erivo presented Kotb with flowers to mark what could be her last parade broadcast.

Despite the rain, the parade proceeded as planned. It has only been canceled three times in history, during World War II. Organizers monitored wind speeds carefully to ensure the safety of the giant balloons, which were permitted to fly as long as winds stayed below 23 mph or gusts didn’t exceed 35 mph.

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Source: apnews‍