Balloons Fly For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It turned out to be a very happy Thanksgiving after all on the streets of Manhattan.
Despite down-to-the-wire concerns, whipping winds were not enough to stop the balloons from flying for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Thousands braved cold and windy conditions to catch a glimpse of them.
As CBS 2's Vanessa Murdock reported, winds have been clocked at 26 mph, so handlers have hung on extra tight to watch Spider-Man, SpongeBob Squarepants, and other balloons both old and new. In all, the crowd was treated to 16 giant balloons.
PHOTOS: 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Balloons Fly For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 87th annual parade officially got under way at 9 a.m., when parade executive producer Amy Kule cut the ribbon, 1010 WINS' Eileen Lehpamer reported. Celebration clowns on roller skates with balloons in their hands kept the crowd entertained, while the James Madison University marching band performed "My Favorite Things."
Confetti flew as the crowd roared. At 76th Street, the crowd was five deep, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
Balloons Fly For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
And the balloons did not disappoint. Spider-Man got his arm slashed in the parade, but still flew high, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.
Balloons Fly For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Among the new additions to the parade this year was a giant "Wizard of Oz" balloon, a 47-foot creation to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the movie.
EXTRA: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Guide
Many balloons were monitored intersection by intersection for safety purposes, Haskell reported. But the handler for the Snoopy balloon told Lehpamer she was thrilled to be a part of the parade.
"It is so cool to watch people's reactions from the parade and seeing them watching the parade – it's such a great feeling. The little kids' faces are awesome," she said.
Many were thrilled at the opportunity to watch the parade – whether they were longtime veteran spectators or first-timers.
"I've been coming to this parade since I was born," said Sarah Baglio of the Bronx. "It's my favorite holiday, and my favorite day of the year to bring the kids to the parade."
Balloons Fly For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
"Doing awesome," added Sarah Clamp of Atlanta. "A little cold."
The parade also featured the East Coast Marine Corps Composite Band, dazzling dancers, members of the Oneida Nation in full headdress, and giant clumps of seaweed strolling down Central Park West.
"Since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I've wanted to come see it live," said Cindy Tschosik of Chicago.
The parade performers included Ariana Grande, Kellie Pickler, Richard Simmons, Cher Lloyd, and Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri – a native of Syracuse.
And of course, Santa Claus concluded the parade.
Officials said earlier that the inflatable creatures would not soar if sustained winds topped 23 mph and gusts exceeded 34 mph. That is because of city rules enacted after a Cat in the Hat balloon toppled into a light pole and seriously injured a spectator in 1997.
But police and parade officials gave the go-ahead for the balloons to fly around 8 a.m.
Balloons have only been grounded once in the history of the parade, in 1971.
This year's parade was not without its rough spots, 1010 WINS reported, a Long Island woman suffered a fractured foot while anchoring a massive Buzz Lightyear balloon.
Keri O'Connell said that she was having a great time but the next thing she knew she was face down on the ground with a car on her foot.
O'Connell's foot is now in a cast, she told Newsday that the accident ruined an otherwise wonderful memory.
"It was supposed to be something we could all remember forever and now we're all going to remember it by this," she said.
The car that struck O'Connell was following the balloon throughout the parade. Witnesses said that it appeared as though the driver could not find the reverse gear to get off of her leg.
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