More than 25 giant balloons, dozens of floats and marching bands, and hundreds of clowns joined around two million spectators this Thanksgiving morning for a celebration of gratitude at the 90th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Families showed up as early as 4:30 this morning to snag the most coveted spots on Central Park West, while latecomers made do with ladders, stools, shoulders, or scrambling atop the DSNY trucks pulling barricade duty on the cross streets.
There was a bit of politics and protest in the air, as well, as a loud and appropriately angry Stand With Standing Rock group at the parade's stepping off point drew a lot of attention from various NYPD units (including the Disorder Control Unit), but tensions never flared too high and most of the protestors mic checks ended with a "thank you."
The weather was pleasantly warm, the confetti sprinkled the air, shouts grew loud for favorite characters, and De La Soul, Tony Bennett, and Regina Spektor were all on hand to help entertain the masses.
