Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which began at 9 a.m. and ended at around 12 p.m. Eastern Time, bypassed Broadway for the first time this year to avoid pedestrian plazas at Times and Herald Squares.
Miss America Katie Stam waves to the crowds from a Statue of Liberty float on the Times Square during the 83rd Macy's Thanksgiving parade in New York, the U.S., Nov. 26, 2009.
Balloons of cartoon characters pass through the Times Square during the 83rd Macy's Thanksgiving parade in New York, the U.S., Nov. 26, 2009.
Millions of spectators lined the streets of Manhattan, New York, Thursday morning for the 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"We've been wanting to see this parade for years, and we finally made it," said Jacquesa de Villepin, a tourist from France, with his twin preschool daughters and wife standing around him.
"My kids shrieked and shouted so happily when they saw the familiar cartoon faces passing by," he said. "My wife and I enjoyed the parade as well."
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade presented by Macy's, one of the world's largest department stores that produces the annual event, a well known parade which has been held on the streets of New York City annually since 1924.
The route is slightly longer this year which organizers say allowed for more spectators.
Children and ad-ults alike from across the world, particularly from Europe, lined up Wednesday night near the Museum of Natural History to see Snoopy, Sponge Bob, and dozens of other characters take shape.
This year, Spiderman returned to the lineup for the first time in 10 years, Mickey Mouse appeared as a sailor, and the Pillsbury Doughboy made his debut.
In addition to the big balloons, this year's parade featured 1,500 cheerleaders, 800 clowns, 10 marching bands and 24 floats.
Closing out the parade as always was Santa Claus, who was riding high on a brand new sleigh.
Most stores remained closed the day for Thanksgiving and will be reopen on Black Friday, which is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, indicating the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. The term dates back to at least 1966, although its usage was primarily on the East coast.
All government offices, financial markets and schools were closed on the day.
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