A recap – NBC New York

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was soaked by rain on Thursday and briefly disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.

New York police said they arrested at least 21 people after protesters sat down on the parade route with Palestinian flags and a “Don’t Celebrate Genocide” banner.

People protesting Israel’s war in Gaza also disrupted last year’s parade.

Thanks to the wet weather, this year’s parade saw plenty of ponchos and umbrellas along with the usual assortment of giant balloons, floats and star-studded performances.

The latest edition of the annual holiday tradition featured new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, an ode to Big Apple coffee and bagels, appearances from Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel and Kylie Minogue and more more.

The line-up was a far cry from the parade’s first incarnation a century ago, which featured floats depicting scenes from Mother Goose, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Miss Muffet and the Spider and other fairy tales.

However, some things remained the same. As in 1924, there are lots of marching bands and lots of clowns, followed by the grand finale with Santa riding through Manhattan and ushering in the holiday season.

This year’s parade featured 17 giant, helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 new inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.

Other highlights included reality TV stardom Ariana Madix, hip-hop T pain, country duo Dan + Shay, The War and the Treaty, The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Broadway veteran Lea Salonga and “Glow” actor and Macy’s spokesperson Alison Brie.

A new float put the focus on Rao’s food brand, with a knight and a dragon in battle made with real pasta elements. Another celebrated the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with representations of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra and a gorilla.

Sarah Wallace brings us what happened from the parade route.

“The work we do, the opportunity to impact millions of people and bring a little joy for a few hours on Thanksgiving morning is what motivates us every day,” said Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer.

The parade began at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away around noon at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as the stage and backdrop for performances.

The rain doesn’t stop anything – the parade has only been canceled three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II – but organizers monitor wind speeds throughout the festivities to make sure it’s safe for the big balloons to fly.

Temperatures are in the upper 40s F, with rain all morning and winds around 10 mph (16 km/h), well within the acceptable range for letting Snoopy, Bluey and their friends soar. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 km/h) or gusts exceed 35 mph (56 km/h).

The parade airs on NBC with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and streams on the network’s Peacock service. Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza will host a Spanish simulcast on Telemundo.

Have you ever wondered how the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began? Join NBC New York’s Jennifer Vázquez on a historical dive of the beloved event and how immigrant communities helped create this tradition.