Balloons fly at chilly Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade

FRIGID WEATHER and blustery winds didn’t chill the enthusiasm at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where spectators bundled up in blankets and sleeping bags and the giant character balloons flew lower than usual.

SpongeBob, Charlie Brown, the Grinch, and other big balloons were cleared for takeoff just before Thursday’s parade, although some floated at noticeably lower-than-usual heights above the people holding their tethers, like the outstretched hand of the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ balloon that appeared to hit some of his handlers on their wool capcovered heads.

The 21°F (-6°Celsius) at the start made it one of the coldest Thanksgivings in the city in decades, and the temperature warmed only a few degrees as the parade rolled along.

Officials had been ready to order the 16 helium-filled balloons to a lower altitude or removed entirely if sustained winds exceeded 23mph (37kph) and gusts exceeded 34mph (54kph). There have been mishaps and injuries in the past when gusts blew them off course.

Bystanders refused to let the cold put a damper on watching the parade, breaking out blankets and sleeping bags to watch the balloons, bands, and floats go by.

CAMPERS

Tony Stout had camped out with his extended family since 2 a.m. to make sure they got a good view of his son, who was in the parade with the Ohio State University marching band.

“Ohhh, I’m freezing and numb, but excited,” said Stout, who had travelled from Columbus, Ohio.

Dylan Mahoney, who has come to the parade every year for the past dozen years, said he stayed warm by layering,