Spectators at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade thankful for great weather

[Trainspotter]

Spectators at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade thankful for great weather

DAILY NEWS STAFF

Thursday, November 22nd 2007, 12:47 PM

 

It would take a lot of Scooby snacks to keep this big guy satisfied. Scooby-doo

sails down Broadway in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

 

Spectators at the 81st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade had yet another reason to give thanks this year - fantastic weather.

 

Parade-goers many years bundle up to brave frosty late November temperatures. This year's lucky attendees were treated to temps in the 60s and a little early morning sunshine that gave way to cloudy skies.

 

Audiences got a look at three new entries in the parade's signature lineup of giant size balloons.

 

Stalwart Kermit the Frog has a new companion in the it's-not-easy-being-green category - everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek.

 

Favorites such as the Pokeman character Picachu and Scooby-Doo were joined by two other new additions: Hello Kitty Supercute, a caped crusader version of the cartoon feline, and Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street's fairy-in-training.

 

The Rockettes made their traditional appearance, along with marching bands, tap dancing Christmas trees, dancing Care Bears and the new Menudo.

 

There were solemn moments mixed in with the fun. Virginia Tech's Regimental Marching Band played in tribute to the victims of last spring's campus shooting.

 

Some 10,000 marchers joined the parade as it wended its way from 77th Street and Central Park West, where it began at 9 a.m., to Herald Square, at Broadway and 34th Street.

 

About half of the marchers are Macy's employees. Participants also included 2,000 cheerleaders and 800 clowns.

[Pablo M 201]

I wanted to go this year too. But when I heard rain was a comin' I wasn't worried, but the forecast changed for rain for the afternoon, and even then I don't think it rained. I wouldn't know since I wasn't around the area anyway.

[sebbieprops]

I haven't been to the parade at all, even though I've lived in New York my entire life. I've always been with my family on Thanksgiving, and it's not easy to schedule dinner plans with the parade and all.