87th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The big balloons soared between Manhattan skyscrapers this morning for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. There had been some concerns about whether the wind could keep the giant balloons grounded, but the cherished tradition prevailed, although the balloons were flown lower. These images were made at the winter village of Bryant Park with the skating rink in the foreground. Happy Thanksgiving!

Macy's Thanksgiving Balloon Inflation on the Upper Westside

Hello Kitty

Uncle Sam and Spiderman

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Columbus Avenue and the long line of spectators outside the inflation area

Aflac

Kermit

Balloon handlers

Earlier today, balloon inflation teams were busy pumping up Kermit, Charlie Brown, Spiderman and Hello Kitty, just some of the more than two dozen balloons set to bounce down the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade tomorrow morning. The inflation event took place on the Upper Westside (81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue) around the American Museum of Natural History. This year's parade will feature Hello Kitty, Papa Smurf, The Elf on the Shelf, Kermit the Frog, Spongebob Squarepants and Spider-Man, along with hundreds of clowns, 28 floats, bands, performers and much more. Huge crowds showed up for the increasingly popular inflation event. The parade steps off at 77th Street and Central Park West, then heads south along Central Park West and east along 59th Street to 6th Avenue, and finally to Macy’s Herald Square at 34th Street.