Thanksgiving: What is the Macy’s Day Parade?

The giant balloons, floats and marching bands are making their way down Manhattan streets for the 89th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

More than 500 police officers were added this year to its anti-terror efforts from the recently formed Critical Response Command, a heavily armed unit that can rapidly respond to an attack.

Thousands of police officers were deployed along the route of the event, which was expected to draw about 3.5 million spectators.

The parade draws crowds from West 77th Street, where it begins, downtown to the parade’s end point at West 34th Street and Herald Square, around noon. It’s a chance to be in front of millions of people, and see something in-person that you have probably watched for most of your life on TV.

Police Commissioner William Bratton said on Wednesday that attending the parade with its giant helium balloons of Snoopy, Hello Kitty and dozens of other characters was a way to fight global events that were created to foment fear.

Scheduled performers include Jordin Sparks, Shawn Mendes and Pat Benatar.

“I think people are coming here from all over the city, all over the metropolitan region, all over the country to be a part of this parade”, Mr de Blasio said during a news conference on Wednesday night.

But officials, including President Obama, have said there were no specific threats.

The Early family from Rockville Centre was participating in the parade as clowns. “I feel pretty safe”. She said since her group was selected last May, she’s been preparing, and won’t let post-Paris anxiety about terrorism ruin her big day.

And that’s exactly what visitors said they plan to do on the holiday. Seth Meyers got hold of the exclusive promo for the 69th annual P.C. Richard and Son Alternative Thanksgiving Day Parade, and you do not want to miss this one. In New York, the employees marched to store dressed in vibrant costumes – a tradition that has remained ever since.