Millions line streets of New York to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The colorful parade included a host of famous characters in balloon form, as well as stars including Celine Dion and Kelly Rowland
Millions of people have lined the streets of Manhattan to watch Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade.
The iconic department store’s 93rd parade kicked off at 9AM EST Thursday on Central Park West, in New York’s Upper West Side.
Spectators were relieved to hear that wind conditions were deemed safe enough to inflate the giant balloon characters the parade is famous for.
The helium-filled decorations are barred from flying if wind speeds exceed 23mph and gusts 34mph to stop them breaking loose and causing chaos in the skies over New York.
This year’s balloons include cartoon favorite Snoopy dressed as an astronaut to commemorate the 50th anniversary of man landing on the moon for the first time.
Also spotted was Ronald McDonald, Pikachu, the Grinch, a red Power Ranger and Greg Heffley, the fictional narrator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.
Macy’s parade snakes just over two miles to its flagship store in Herald Square, close to the Empire State Building.
This year sees performances by singing stars Celine Dion, Ciara, Kelly Rowland and Idina Menzel.
Actor Billy Porter from TV drag drama Pose is also scheduled to appear.
