Beloved characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants took to the skies above New York City on Thursday as the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicked off the holiday season. The parade, which started on Manhattan's Upper West Side, made its way alongside Central Park, attracting big crowds and a national television audience before ending in front of Macy's flagship store on 34th Street.

The parade featured a star-studded lineup of performers, including the iconic Cher, who recently released her first Christmas album. Cher had a prime spot in the lineup, performing just before the arrival of Santa Claus, which marks the end of the parade. Other celebrities and musical groups that participated in the parade included Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Jessie James Decker, Pentatonix, and Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke. The casts of some Broadway shows also took part, adding to the excitement of the event.

One of the highlights of this year's parade was the appearance of Cher, who stole the show with her captivating performance. The legendary Oscar-, Emmy-, and Grammy Award-winning artist mesmerized the crowd with her powerful vocals and festive holiday spirit.

However, the parade was briefly disrupted by a group of protesters who covered themselves in fake blood and glued themselves to the street in front of a McDonald's float. The protesters carried a banner with the messages “Free Palestine” and "Genocide then. Genocide now." Police quickly intervened and took the protesters into custody, allowing the parade to continue without further interruption.

The parade featured an array of giant balloons, including new additions like Leo the lizard, a character from a Netflix film, standing over 40 feet tall, as well as familiar favorites like SpongeBob SquarePants, towering at 44 feet. Snoopy, a long-standing favorite, made his appearance as a new Beagle Scout Snoopy balloon to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his first appearance in the Peanuts comics.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was not just about the balloons and performances in the sky. At street level, more than two dozen floats, along with marching bands from across the country and clown crews, made their way through the procession. The parade had a total of 8,000 participants, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere that delighted the thousands of spectators lining the streets.

Families and children eagerly awaited the start of the parade, bundled up in coats on a chilly yet sunny morning. The excitement was palpable as characters like Bluey and Big Bird from Sesame Street passed by, bringing joy to the young and young at heart. For many, attending the parade was a long-awaited dream come true, like Terri Brown, who had always wanted to bring her children to experience the magic of the parade firsthand.

Ross Greenstein, who had grown up watching the parade on TV, traveled 10 hours from Michigan with his family to witness the parade in person. The experience felt surreal for him, and he emphasized the importance of being grateful to live in a country with so much to offer.

This year marked the 97th edition of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since its inception in 1924. The broadcast of the parade was hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker from “Today” and aired on NBC. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden also made an appearance by calling NBC during the parade. President Biden urged the nation to take a moment to appreciate living in the greatest country in the world and to focus on solving problems rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.

As the parade came to a close, the Pikachu and Eevee balloons, along with the Greendale High School Marching Band, made their way down Central Park West, leaving behind a trail of joy and holiday spirit. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade had once again succeeded in bringing people together and setting the stage for a joyful holiday season.