This year's 95th annual parade features 15 giant character balloons, 28 floats, 36 novelty and heritage inflatables, more than 800 clowns, 10 marching bands and nine performance groups and the ever-popular Santa Claus. In total, about 6,500 performers are featured in this year's celebration.
"For our 95th celebration, Macy's has created a spectacle to remember featuring a dazzling array of high-flying balloons, animated floats, and incredible performers," Will Coss, the executive producer of the parade, said in a statement.
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This year's upcoming parade comes after the downsizing of last year's, which had cut thousands of participants, limited the route to one block, and of course, demanded spectators to watch the expected parade only on their television screens.
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Orlando Veras, a Macy's spokesman, told CNN that about 2.5 million people came out in person this year to watch the parade. "We're so thrilled to be back," he said.
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New balloon giants joining the line-up include Ada Twist, Scientist; the pint-sized hero from "The Mandalorian," and the Pokémon characters Pikachu and Eevee on a sled.
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Snoopy was among the many pillars of the parade, arriving in his NASA suit as the longest-running character to arrive at the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
There will also be new floats led by the cast of "Girls5eva" - Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps - Nelly and Jordan Fisher, while Jon Batiste will be on an alligator-themed float celebrating Louisiana's music, food and culture.
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Other stars on hand will include Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Kelly Rowland, Rob Thomas, Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss, Foreigner, Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Chris Lane, Miss America Camille Schrier, Muppets from "Sesame Street" and the three past and current hosts of "Blue's Clues"- Steve Burns, Donovan Patton, and Josh De la Cruz.
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The South Korean K-Pop group Aespa also joined in the celebrations as one of the new acts.
Some of the returning balloons will be 'The Boss Baby,' 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid," Chase from "Paw Patrol," the Pillsbury Doughboy, Ronald McDonald, Red Titan from "Ryan's World," Papa Smurf, Sonic the Hedgehog, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
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As in years past, the New York Police Department obstructed all vehicle access points to the parade route with sand-filled garbage trucks, other heavy vehicles, and about 360,000 pounds of concrete barriers. Thousands of officers are assigned to the parade route, including counterterrorism teams.
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said there were no specific, credible threats to the parade.
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