Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in photos : NPR
Andres Kudacki/AP
NEW YORK — Crowds of spectators lined the streets of New York on Thursday as colorful balloons flew high to help kick off the holiday season during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The annual tradition, dating back almost a century, fills the streets as a procession of giant floats and floats stretches more than 40 blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.
Children balance atop metal railings and hang from scaffolding to watch balloons fly in a mostly sunny and windy sky.
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“Blue, blue. It’s blue,” shouted Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his brother Aanu Aryan, 4, on a metal rail.
The boy was referring to the star of the animated show “Blue’s Clues” – not to be confused with the internationally famous cartoon character Bluey, an Australian calf who made his first appearance in the parade.
Bluey’s hot air balloon was as tall as a four-story building and spread as wide as seven cabs.
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Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to excite the crowd.
Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, reappeared, as did Papa Smurf, Ronald McDonald and SpongeBob.
This year’s parade, with numbers: 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 heritage and novelty inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 clowns and a grandfather Santa Claus.
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Singer Paula Abdul, in her first appearance in the parade; indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Clue of Blue & 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 will also join the festival, as will the stars of Peacock’s “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula Borg. Jimmy Fallon & The Roots will join the parade in Central Park.
President Biden and Jill Biden have called to join the parade, as he did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police and first responders, saying, “They never rest.”
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They thanked the soldiers and Biden said he would be in touch today to speak to a number of people.
When asked about their plans for the day in Nantucket, the Bidens said they would involve family and spend time locally, and thanked first responders.
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