Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons inflate

It became a Thanksgiving parade in 1927, and that’s also when the giant balloons debuted, replacing live zoo animals.

Still, Thursday’s parade seemed to go off without any obvious problems, with Santa bringing up the rear as usual. The Quinns are sisters and Rossman is their cousin.

Photo taken on November 24, 2016 shows the float of “China’s Chengdu-Home of the Giant Panda” during the 90th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, New York, the United States.

24, the 90th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will march down the streets of New York City as millions celebrate with family and friends.

The Skylanders Eruptor balloon floats above the parade.

People in Customs take part during the 90th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 24, 2016 in NY.

Ronald McDonald balloon makes its way across Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, in New York, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016.

An estimated crowd of three million was on hand in NY while an additional 50 million people watched the parade on NBC. “You can’t spend your life worrying about what could happen”.

Na Koa Ali’i, the Hawaii All State Marching Band, represented the Aloha state in Manhattan and on national television with more than 400 band members and 200 hula dancers.

Taking part in the parade this morning will be about a dozen marching bands, some 1,000 clowns and giant balloons, including Charlie Brown, Hello Kitty and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Among the celebrities expected to attend were Tony Bennett, Aloe Blacc, Sarah McLachlan and a number of Olympic gold medal winners.

Annie Quinn came from Albany to score front-row spots with her cousin and two sisters – all three dressed as turkeys.

“It’s good to see Mr. Peanut, at age 100, keeping up with the times and “dabbing” on his Peanutmobile”, wrote one adoring Twitter user.

At least one spectator said the intensive security made her feel secure.

NY police used sand-filled trucks, radiation detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs and heavily armed officers to defend the 2.5-mile (4-km) parade route in Manhattan.

In recent years, authorities also have used the trucks to help safeguard the United Nations General Assembly and President Barack Obama’s motorcades when he visits the city – an instant formula for epic gridlock.

“We look at everything that’s transpired since the last parade, we take that into consideration and we build our counter terrorism protection around that”, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said.