90th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
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People in costumes pose as they arrive to take part
People in costumes pose as they arrive to take part in the 90th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.  Kena Betancur, AFP/Getty Images
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90th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade stepped off at around 9 a.m. after a performance from The Muppets.

This year’s three-hour event marks 90 parades, but not in a row. The Macy’s parade started in 1924 but was put on hold during World War II, when commodities like helium and rubber were in short supply.

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Sixteen character balloons, 27 novelty/ornament balloons, 26 floats, 1,100 cheerleaders and dancers, more than 1,000 clowns and 16 marching bands and performance groups are making their way down the 2.5-mile parade route.


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Thursday's event features four new floats: The Aloha Spirit by King’s Hawaiian features a functioning waterfall, while the Deck the Halls float by Balsam Hill has a fully operating merry-go-round, which 10 lucky children will get to ride. The Girl Scouts of the USA’s Building a Better World float, as well as the Fun House by Krazy Glue.

Felix the Cat, the parade’s first-ever balloon, returned this year, carried on sticks sans helium, just like during his first parade run in 1927.

Snoopy’s Doghouse float replaced the traditional Snoopy balloon this year. Charlie Brown represented the Peanuts gang from up above as a balloon. Snoopy was one of the longest-running balloons in the parade.

Thursday's performers include Tony Bennett, Aloe Blacc, LunchMoney Lewis, Regina Spektor, Daya, Easton Corbin and more.

Here’s what people at the parade are sharing on social media:

Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets

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