Rain and cold didn’t stop them. About 3 million people attended the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday to see the giant balloon and special performances in person. Another 8,000 people marched as part of the annual parade.
Donning ponchos and hunching under umbrellas, both performers and spectators could be seen smiling and cheering as the show made its way through Manhattan.
“Dragon Ball” character Goku made a cameo at this year’s parade, leaving behind his icy blue hair.
Gary the snail hitched a ride on SpongeBob SquarePants.
Minnie Mouse made her grand balloon debut on Thursday, flanked by Stuart the Minion. Minnie was one of six new balloons at this year’s parade, along with Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf and an all-new Spider-Man balloon.
Also in attendance were Oscar the Grouch...
...and Bluey.
The parade of 22 big balloons, 34 fabulous floats and seven wheeled “balloonicles” travels about 2.5 miles toward the Macy’s Herald Square flagship store. Here, a “Kung Fu Panda” balloon floats past Radio City Music Hall on Sixth Avenue.
And no parade would be complete without music and dancing. Eleven marching bands performed this year along with stars like Jennifer Hudson, Lea Salonga, T-Pain, Rachel Platten and Idina Menzel.
Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for: Santa Claus came to town. His arrival marked the parade’s grand finale under a flurry of white, snow-like confetti.