As the Thanksgiving Day Parade winds from 77th street to Macy's at Herald Square, most eyes tend to gravitate toward the gigantic balloons that line the New York City sky. And why not? They're gorgeous, cheerful, throwbacks to happier times -- and did we mention gigantic? But along with the great balloons and floats, there are plenty of celebrities taking part in the festivities.
Joining in on the fun are a whole host of big names. Fans with great spots along the route -- or staying warm and watching on TV -- get to see Cee Lo Green, Daniel Radcliffe, Jane Krakowski, "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, a whole host of Muppets (along with the customary Kermit balloon), Mary J. Blige, Cobra Starship and more. The parade is also featuring some amazing performances, to boot. If you can't be there, or watch on TV, don't worry: we've got you covered.
Oh, and while we're bringing you the fun, here are some fun historical facts about the parade (and here are some great historical pictures from parades past).
- This is the 85th iteration of the parade; in 1924, the parade's first year, it was called Macy’s Christmas Parade, even though it happened on Thanksgiving. The parade was canceled in 1942-44, as the United States fought World War II.
Now, onto the photos!
PHOTOS:
