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Louis Lanzano / AP
See images of the giant balloons and festivities at the 86th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Updated at 12:55 p.m. ET: NEW YORK — Millions of people lined the streets of New York on Thursday to watch the 86th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the largest event held in the city since Superstorm Sandy caused widespread damage throughout the region.
Giant helium balloons hovering over the parade lifted spirits in the wake of the deadly storm that flooded homes and businesses in New York and New Jersey last month.
Crowds along the parade route cheered a host of giant character balloons, including a 60-foot-tall Kermit the Frog balloon and an enormous Charlie Brown. The parade, which typically draws 3.5 million spectators and 50 million television viewers, also featured 28 floats, 11 marchine bands, thousands of cheerleaders and dancers and Santa Claus. Celebrity performers included Whoopi Goldberg, Carly Rae Jepsen and the Muppets.
On Thanksgiving Day, a parade lifts holiday spirits, charities fill empty stomachs, and soldiers find a little bit of home in a faraway land. NBC's Katy Tur reports.
The parade was the largest public event held in the city since the storm, which killed 132 people in the United States and Canada.
"As it has during turbulent times in our history, we hope the Macy's Parade serves as a beacon of hope for all who tune in and gather with friends and family to give thanks this season, as they continue to heal from the devastating aftermath of Superstorm Sandy," Amy Kule, the parade's executive producer, said in a statement.
Macy's said it would provide seats for some 5,000 people affected by Sandy, which inundated lower Manhattan with seawater, damaged shorelines and destroyed homes in New Jersey and New York.
Thousands of area residents are coping with the loss of homes, businesses and loved ones on Thanksgiving. Some are marking the occasion in homeless shelters.
Thousands of Sandy victims still displaced
Watching the balloons being inflated on Wednesday night was Chris Tamis, his wife and two teenagers, whose home on hard-hit Long Island only recently had its power restored.
"Coming here is a good distraction," said Tamis, who lives in Smithtown, New York. "A lot of people are coming to get away from it."
On Wednesday, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the city, in partnership with local community organizations and businesses, was providing 26,500 Thanksgiving meals for people hardest hit by the storm.
Thanking out loud: Why you're grateful this year
From poor weather conditions in the Midwest to a worker protest at LAX, travel slowdowns and higher rental car costs have made Thanksgiving travel anything but smooth sailing. NBC's Ron Mott reports.
Other cities planned to have showy marching bands, cartoon character balloons and musical extravaganzas as well. Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit were among the big cities hosting parades.
TODAY's Al Roker chats with a few of the musical acts who will perform during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade alongside "dancing baked goods" and the Ninja Turtles.
Black Friday psychology: Inside the minds of shoppers
For some, the once-sacrosanct harvest feast now starts the holiday shopping season — and store openings keep getting earlier. Black Friday now starts on Thanksgiving day itself at many national stores and some shoppers eagerly race from their dinner tables to line up for bargains, delaying their second helpings until they've purchased the latest toys or electronic devices.
Yana Paskova / Getty Images
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The FEMA balloon couldn't get off the ground.
I hope it makes people forget about their problems for at least a little while. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE.
Cancel it. Maybe Bloomberg could have the cops get us some gas.
Don't put up the tree in Rockefeller Center, it isn't green and causes pollution from all the people in cars coming into the city.
All the while those that are still in the camps after Sandy with no heat are suffering.
Rockyroad, here we go again. Do you want the whole world to stop everything they are doing while there are people still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy?
Where do you draw the line and say , over here it's ok to be happy and celebrate, but on this side of the line, you better not celebrate anything?
This is the Macy's Day Parade that has been a stead fast icon of NYC for decades.
I get tired of these guys who think the world should shut down just because a disaster has occurred.
The Macy's Day Parade is a break from reality and NYC and the whole country deserves to have it every year.
I think of it more as a trail of cash.
Thought this was a article abut the macys parade and all it was is more stuff about a two week old hurricane and twisting peoples emotional strings for a buck
what a crappy article with like ZERO substance or thought...this is regurgitated crap...
Gee johnbarker, if your home is ever destroyed, I sincerely hope that your receive the same level of compassion from others that you've expressed here. Oh, and I'm so sorry that reading this comment will interrupt the f**king parade that you much "deserve" to watch.
Wilman, All I can say is your a JERK! Don't forget to put that lump of coal on the fire while you are counting your shillings.
I liked the Macy's parade float where Tracy Adkins lip-synched his gruff-but-loveable songs, while little kids dressed in darling cookie outfits smiled sweetly and obliviously, revealing their zero emotional connection to any of his songs. That's a whimsical metaphor of the reality of the mammoth Blue State divide, nestling close to the laughable, yet perhaps sometimes sweet, Red State mythos.
Blue State mythos, and pathos. http://www.youtube.com/user/NeedKickAssAds?v=9tE31Wd7DF4&feature=pyv&ad=8120530252&kw=evanescence
Yankees, everywhere. Quick, get a broom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_uh8XjgLTE
Baile la Cumbia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM8ZDHvlJt0&feature=related
Wilman...I pray you are able to find SOMETHING to be cheerful and grateful for! Seems like you don't have much in your life! We NEED parades and Christmas trees and ESPECIALLY the ingathering of our friends and neighbors at this time of the year and especially after all we as a nation have gone through recently.
GOD BLESS EVERYONE ON THIS WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING DAY!! ENJOY THE PARADE, AND THE WHOLE HOLIDAY SEASON!!
Just being facetious... (Since they cancelled the Marathon....)
Happy Thanksgiving... :)
Glad to hear the Macy's Day Parade is on schedule and I hope it does not become a target of controversy like the marathon was.
The Macy's Day Parade on Thanksgiving is an iconic event I remember when I was there as a kid circa 1965 when Bullwinkle was the featured balloon. Happy Thanksgiving to all :)
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Beacon of Hope with the promotion of their brand by the use of Donal Trump? Please.....spare me the hypocrisy.
I don't get the uproar about Donald Trump and Macy's. I notice that Martha Stuart (the former Kmart and inside trader convict) also has a spot in Macy's too.
Who cares?
Rumor has it that Donald's hair is real. That is shocking, if it is true. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM8ZDHvlJt0&feature=related
When you see the balloons of the Macy's Day Parade, think of Helium. A very rare element used to fill the parade balloons. The main use of helium is for inflating balloons or "lighter than air" ships. The size of the balloons will probably reflect the availability or cost of helium versus the profit margins of the parade financiers over the last year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium
You must be full of it if that's all you can think about
'Bacon of hope'….Oh, glasses ;-)
If more people ate bacon, it would be a more peaceful world, maybe?
Not a recommended sushi dish but most cultures will eat pork cooked.
Between those cultures who like pork and those who don't? Major social issues. :)
I got an idea for a Disney movie, the first hand account of a pig on his way to becoming Christmas dinner. Or you could do it with a Turkey or Goose too :)
You could also do that with a Tuna on the way to becoming a sushi snack.
The long occupation is far from over, after the main missions were
abandoned years back with the first drum beats of war pointed at Iraq
and almost full support for from this country.
For the first time since 9/11, most of Fort Bragg's soldiers are home for Thanksgiving
But those still being sent are seeking to regain at least some of those
missions for the Afghan people, there is no movement within the ranks or
the veterans of but for the gradual drawdown and hope of accomplishing
something. Many Afghans will be helped as will the country, many won't
be as that is what destructive wars and occupations cause, hope is all
as to the country and it's future. And it's long past due that Our
Country step up and Sacrifice for the costs of, especially the wealthy,
still being added daily, and more importantly for the results of for
those who've served it!
Dump Trump Macy's or we'll shop elsewhere.
Dump the Trump, Macy's.
I just wish they would focus more on the parade itself than all of those ridiculous side shows and little tweenie girl wannabe pop stars. It used to be a great parade. Now not so much in my opinion. Happy Thanksgiving
SOooooooooooo right !
The first hour was nothing but snippets from Broadway musicals.
WHAT A TURN OFF.
I believe people want marching bands and floats and balloons.
I agree! They don't show enough of the actual parade,just the singing and dancing crap!
I've watched on NBC for so many years...but I'm sorry I can't watch any show with Matt Lauer on it....he blew it and I'm sure there are many others that could have done the Macy's Day parade...it's a parade not a time for all the ridicules interviews.....
As we celebrate, let's not to forget the poor people in this country who are basically struggling for basic survival as we speak.
I am thankful for everything I have.
Happy thanksgiving.
Let's not forget the poor people outside the US. They actually have something to complain about which is not of their own doing... (or lack of doing...) Can't feel to sorry for anyone with a family cellphone plan...:(:(:(
We have much to be thankful for here in NY. So, today, I put aside my vehement dislike and distrust of all the maroons on the left and wish EVERYONE a Happy Thanksgiving and prosperous New Year (off the sweat of the 1%).
What is Macy's going to do when the world runs out of helium?
Helium isn't renewable and we're close to running out. Hydrogen is too dangerous to use as a substitute.
they will use helicopters to lift and carry the balloons.
get a life.
CANCEL THE PARADE. Why divert limited resources? NY should be doing nothing be hurricane cleanup for the next 100 years. Jesus Christ!!!!
Cancel the Inauguration... Waste of taxpayer dollars... You had your party four years ago. You don't need another one...
I thought this was the Parade, Instead it is hours of comercials for plays and dog shows. Where is the Parade?? It is called Bait and switch....
WHERE IS THE PARADE, All this commercials and sales stuff for plays and dancing is horrible.
Tape it and fast forward later...
not to mention all the unnecessary interviews...please just show the parade....
You have to love New York. Nowhere, and I mean nowhere on earth, do you see such a vast chasm between the haves and the have nots.
To have a helium induced parade with all of the misery and suffering going on in the adjacent communities is simply surreal. Only in America!
Bloomberg should walk up out of his bunker and realize that until the beach communities no longer look post-apocalyptic that having big celebrations will not go over very well.
Of course the advertisers paid their money and the show must go on.
Africa, Russia, Middle East, China, need I go on?
And now that the parade is on, NBC is broadcasting interviews with celebrities while hundreds of high school bands march by in the background. These kids and their parents have scraped together money and have had multiple fundraisers for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of marching in the Macy' Parade, and relatives who couldn't make the trip would appreciate getting to see more than a background shot. Hey, NBC...how about acknowledging the ordinary folks who aren't making regular appearances on Entertainment Tonight? How about remembering that your audience appreciates seeing and hearing about ordinary folks like them who worked hard, traveled far and are now part of a national tradition?
The Rose Bowl parade broadcasters have the same fixation: Interviewing hung-over TV and movie personalities (so they have that all-important opportunity to plug their latest show) while high-schoolers march past in the background. It's a big deal (and huge expense) for an entire band to travel to New York or California.
And why was the Marathon cancelled again ?
Long article about the parade but not one mention of what time it starts. I guess we are all supposed to know. Of course, if we all know about the parade why did somebody write the useless article? Bad reporting.
Happy Thanksgiving ANSI/ISO Money Market America! Go easy on the CBO government monetary return investment owed treasury bond money maker credit float clock with our can't afford too much compromise newly elected mostly two party Congress and we will enjoy years hereon as bright as this Thanksgiving morning:)
To all of those complaining of using the precious resource of helium.
They release it under pressure into pressurized canisters and use it year after year.
You're seeing Spider man today from helium from the Davy Crockett balloon from the 50s!