New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio addresses the media along with New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton (left) and Macy’s Ceo Terry Lindgren (right) in front of the balloons inflated and read to head through midtown Manhattan for the Macy’s 89th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City New York on Nov. 25, 2015.
The parade first began in 1924 and it features giant balloons of cartoon characters, pop culture icons and more. The balloons are inflated the night of the parade, before they make their way down 2.5 miles of Manhattan streets while volunteers on the ground walk along with the balloons to keep them tethered from floating away.
Along with the balloons are floats featuring musical guests from various realms, including pop stars. Broadway acts perform along the parade route alongside marching bands from across the country. The parade is telecast nationwide every year by NBC in what has become a Thanksgiving viewing tradition for many families.