Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York Metropolis: 16 large balloons and 700 clowns

The annual custom, which dates again almost a century, packed streets as a procession of large inflatables and floats streamed for greater than 40 blocks from Central Park to Herald Sq..

Kids balanced atop steel barricades and hung from scaffolding to look at the balloons amid largely sunny skies and a slight breeze.

“Blue, Blue. There’s Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped stability him and his 4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a steel rail.

The teenager was referring to the star of the animated present “Blue’s Clues” — to not be confused with the worldwide cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian cattle pup making her parade debut.

Bluey’s balloon towered as tall as a four-story constructing and stretched as huge as seven taxi cabs.

Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was additionally there to thrill the group.

However it was Snoopy that particularly caught the attention of Brenner Chenenko, 8, much more so than the extra up to date pups.

“It’s one of many classics,” mentioned the teenager from Rochester, New York, who lined the parade route together with his father Nate and grandfather John Wopperer.

It was the primary time the daddy and son had seen the parade in particular person. Wopperer final noticed a parade stay three years in the past, earlier than the pandemic sidelined the occasion for a yr.

Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was adopted by one other old-time favourite, Papa Smurf.

This yr’s parade featured 16 large balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 efficiency teams, 700 clowns and one Santa Claus.

The procession of characters have been joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade look; indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Massive Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues & You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles.

Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who have been additionally a part of the festivities, as have been the celebrities of Peacock’s “Pitch Excellent: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula Borg. Jimmy Fallon & The Roots have been on a float celebrating Central Park.

President Biden and Jill Biden referred to as into the parade, as he did final yr. Biden thanked firefighters, law enforcement officials and first responders, saying, “They by no means take a break.”

They thanked the troops and Biden mentioned he can be reaching out to talk to some right this moment.

Requested about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens mentioned it might contain household, and a while spent domestically, thanking first responders.

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Related Press reporter Deepti Hajela contributed to this story.

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