Marching bands, enormous balloons, and a festive holiday sleigh made their way through the towering structures of New York City during Macy’s 99th Thanksgiving Day Parade. Despite warnings from the National Weather Service regarding potentially strong winds of up to 35 miles per hour, the iconic event proceeded uninterrupted. Precautions concerning wind conditions were implemented following a 1997 incident where a balloon collided with a light post, injuring spectators. Historically, the parade has only been canceled three times, between 1942 and 1944, to conserve materials during World War II, never due to weather conditions. This year’s parade showcased 34 giant helium-filled balloons, including new characters like Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man, and Mario, alongside appearances from Cynthia Erivo and performers from the Netflix series K-Pop Demon Hunters. Macy’s estimates that around 3.5 million people attend in person, with more than 50 million viewers tuning in to the broadcast. The parade traverses approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) through downtown New York, culminating in front of Macy’s flagship store. Additionally, the event has attracted protests, including demonstrations in support of Palestinian solidarity, which briefly blocked the parade route in previous years.
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