PHOTO ESSAY BY DONNA ACETO | The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a New York tradition –– indeed, an American tradition –– for nearly nine decades. Crowds of up to 3.5 million turn out for it in Midtown –– and an estimated 50 million tune in on television. But one of the real local delights of the event is watching the giant balloons being inflated on Central Park West on Thanksgiving Eve.
So, to all our readers, Happy Thanksgiving!
A Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.The Fireman.The phone cameras are out.Paddington Bear.Ronald McDonald being inflated.Snoopy and Woodstock.Sponge Bob.Thomas the Tank, my nephew’s favorite!
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Everyone looks up in amazement.The Aflac Duck.
Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon.”One Angry Bird.
A crew of kids pose in front of the balloons.
A father and daughter enjoy the spectacle.Macy’s staff thank the inflation crew.Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and Mayor Bill de Blasio hit the scene.