The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a staple of New York City’s holiday season. On its 100th anniversary last Thursday, parade-goers and performers donned ponchos and gathered en masse under umbrellas to watch celebrities, floats, and balloons make their way down Sixth Avenue. 

The festivities started early, with dedicated attendees staking their claim on viewing spots before sunrise. Performers began making their way to the staging area around 7:30 a.m. in costume and carrying instruments, flowing out of subway stations surrounding West 77th Street and Central Park West.

According to a coordinator, the dancers pictured above were part of a troupe of several hundred filling multiple subway cars. 

The pre-parade line of marching bands stretched for blocks down Central Park West. This year, the parade featured 11 marching bands. 

For some, the less-than-ideal weather was an ample opportunity — vendors selling ponchos and umbrellas circulated at each parade-viewing location.

This year’s parade featured 34 floats — a mix of classic holiday-themed favorites, brand-sponsored displays, and beloved television characters.

It’s usually hard to see through the teeming crowds, and this year, the view from the sidelines was obscured further by a dark sea of umbrellas. Parade-goers peered around rain gear, raising their phones high for a glance at the floats and performers. 

Despite the weather, 22 of the parade’s iconic oversized balloons made their way through the parade route. This year, six new balloons — all film and television characters — joined the ranks.

The best viewing spots are found in the buildings that line the 2.5-mile route — families and friends gathered in office windows or apartment balconies to view the progression of the parade.

The parade finished with a transition from Thanksgiving scenes into wintry Christmas themes, complete with Santa’s sleigh, a snowy Central Park vignette, and one final marching band. Although this year’s festivities were met with wind and rain, New Yorkers knuckled down and showed up in celebration of the city’s iconic tradition.