Balloons, stars and rain in NYC

Despite the rain, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade continued with its annual program of performances, oversized balloons and celebrities.

The parade, which was also briefly halted due to a group of pro-Palestinian protesters, saw many ponchos and umbrellas as participants and spectators braved the wet weather to take part in the annual spectacle.

This year’s lineup was new WednesdaySpider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons; Zoo and pasta-themed floats; an ode to Big Apple coffee and bagels; and appearances by Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel and Kylie Minogue, along with the cast of The outsiders And Hell’s Kitchenthe Rockettes and more.

Before the parade, a private reception was held at Macy’s Herald Square for celebrity guests including Jessica Chastain, Alison Brie, Maura Tierney, Flavor Flav, Sherri Shepherd, Skylar Astin, Anthony Michael Hall and Amber Ruffin. After the reception, the group watched the parade from the stands on 34th Street.

The lineup was a far cry from the parade’s original incarnation a century ago, which featured floats depicting scenes from “Mother Goose,” “Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf,” “Miss Muffet and the Spider” and other fairy tales.

However, some things remained the same. Just like in 1924, there are lots of brass bands and lots of clowns, followed by the grand finale where Santa Claus rides through Manhattan and ushers in the Christmas season.

This year’s parade featured 17 giant helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 inflatable novelties and traditions, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.

Other highlights included reality TV star Ariana Madix, hip-hop star T-Pain, country duo Dan + Shay, The War and Treaty, The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots and Broadway veteran Lea Salonga.

A new float put food brand Rao’s in the spotlight and featured a knight and a dragon in battle, made from real pasta elements. Another celebrated the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with depictions of a tiger, giraffe, zebra and gorilla.

Although the rain did not stop the parade, organizers monitored wind speeds throughout the celebration to ensure the large balloons could fly safely. The parade was canceled only three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II.

The parade aired on NBC with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and streamed on the network’s Peacock service. Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza hosted a Spanish simulcast on Telemundo.