Soaring balloons and high-stepping bands were unleashed on New York on Thursday to entertain the those crowding the streets for the 2017 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Also out in full force was the New York Police Department (NYPD), following a year marked by attacks on outdoor gathering spots.
With new faces and old favorites in the line-up, the extravaganza began its journey through 2.5 miles (four kilometres) of Manhattan on a chilly morning.
Police officers escorted each of the parade’s giant balloons to help monitor wind speeds and ensure the wafting characters don’t go off course, but winds weren’t expected to climb above 17 miles per hour (27 kilometres per hour).
In 2005, a balloon caught an unexpected gust of wind and struck a lamppost in Times Square, injuring two people.
Since then, the parade has been accident-free.
Smokey Robinson, The Roots, Flo Rida and Wyclef Jean were among the stars celebrating, along with performances from the casts of Broadway’s “Anastasia,” ‘‘Dear Evan Hansen” and “SpongeBob SquarePants,” plus a dozen marching bands.
