In New York, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade welcomes the holiday season.

 

 

Since 1924, the parade has been held 97 times, including this one.

The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade heralded the arrival of the holiday season on Thursday. Bands marched down the streets below, while balloons shaped like iconic characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants soared over the skies above New York City.

In front of sizable crowds and a nationwide television audience, the procession began on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and proceeded alongside Central Park before coming to a stop in front of Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street.

One of the well-known performers was Cher, who recently came out with her debut Christmas album.

A few demonstrators wearing jumpsuits stained with fake blood momentarily stopped the parade when they attached themselves to the pavement in front of a float featuring characters from the massive fast-food chain. They were arrested after carrying a sign that read, “Genocide then. Genocide now,” and “Free Palestine.”

Among the 8,000 participants in the parade were over two dozen floats, along with many clown crews and marching bands from across the nation, according to the organizers.