26th November 1961: Costumed participants in a New York Thanksgiving Day Parade. Some are dressed as pigs others as harlequins. (Photo by William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images) 1961: A peacock float taking part in a Thanksgiving Day Parade in a US city. (Photo by William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images) 26th November 1961: An inflated Popeye floats above the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York as it nears Times Square. (Photo by William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images) Crowds of children gathered in a New York street to watch Macy's traditional Thanksgiving parade. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) 26th November 1961: An balloon shaped like Bullwinkle, of 'Rocky and Bullwinkle' fame, floats above the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, past cinemas and theatres, as it nears Times Square. (Photo by William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images) 26th November 1961: A little boy waves at the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. (Photo by William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images) A marching band moves down the street followed by a Sesame Street float as crowds look on from the sidelines during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, November, circa 1980. (Photo by Ken Howard/Getty Images) Firefighters and policemen, who helped during and in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, carry a flag during the 75th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade November 22, 2001. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) NEW YORK - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York is an annual tradition for many. As we celebrate the 91st edition of the event, swipe through the gallery for a look back at parades past.
THIS YEAR'S PARADE:
This year's event will feature 26 floats and 17 balloons—four of which are new, like Olaf and Chase from Paw Patrol and a special homage to the iconic movie "A Miracle on 34th Street."
Susan Tercero with Macy's says 3.5 million people will line the parade route this year and an estimated 50 million will watch at home. It is a huge event that requires a lot of manpower. And that effort begins long before the balloons rise up in the morning sky.
Security is extra tight this year, with measures that resemble the Times Square ball drop. And yet that didn't deter some 200,000 people from braving the wind and cold Wednesday night to experience the magic that is Thanksgiving Eve in New York City.
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