By LARRY NEUMEISTER
The Macy’s Parade Snoopy balloon is partially inflated on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013 in New York. The characters that glide between Manhattan’s skyscrapers can’t lift off if sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts top 34 mph. The New York Police Department, the National Weather Service and Macy’s representatives will make a final determination in the morning. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Macys Parade
Technicians wear rain suits while inflating the Macy’s Parade Aflac balloon, on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013 in New York. The characters that glide between Manhattan’s skyscrapers can’t lift off if sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts top 34 mph. The New York Police Department, the National Weather Service and Macy’s representatives will make a final determination in the morning. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Macys Parade
Scores braved the rains to see the inflation of the balloons for the Macy’s Parade on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013 in New York. The characters that glide between Manhattan’s skyscrapers can’t lift off if sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts top 34 mph. The New York Police Department, the National Weather Service and Macy’s representatives will make a final determination in the morning. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Thanksgiving Travel
A man stands by a rain covered window at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013. Bands of ice, sleet and rain were upending some Thanksgiving holiday plans as millions of Americans took to the roads, skies and rails Wednesday, likely the busiest travel day of the year. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Thanksgiving Travel
Passengers board a BoltBus during a light rain, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013 in New York. A wall of storms packing ice, sleet and rain could upend holiday travel plans as millions of Americans take to the roads, skies and rails Wednesday for Thanksgiving. So far, the deadly storms barreling into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast have not resulted in many flight delays or cancellations, but forecasters were expecting the weather to worsen throughout the day. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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NEW YORK (AP) — The big balloons soared along with the crowd’s spirits Thursday as the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade made its way through the streets of New York City.
There’d been some concerns about whether the wind could keep 16 giant balloons grounded, but the cherished tradition prevailed.
“We thought they’d find a way to pull it off,” said parade-goer John Mispagel, of San Jose, Calif. “It’s really fun seeing so many people having such a great time.”
Balloon handlers were keeping a tight grip on their inflated characters and held them fairly close to the ground in tree-lined areas. The wind was around 26 mph.
Mispagel and his wife, Susan, said Sonic the Hedgehog got caught on a tree while rounding a corner near the start of the parade route; handlers used cutters on a rope to free the balloon.
The cheering throngs were bundled against a 30-degree chill, but the sun was shining. Some in the crowd lifted small children onto their shoulders.
An excited 9-year-old Lily Thomolaris, of Pittsburgh, was excited to “see all the balloons.” But she especially thought a big turkey was really cool.
Matthew Ragbe, 11, lives in the neighborhood and came out to enjoy the sights. His twin brother decided not to leave their warm apartment.
“He’s probably watching the parade on TV,” Matthew said. “Loser.”
“Lazy is more like the operative word,” joked their mother, Alison Ragbe.
Elsewhere in the country, Thanksgiving traditions were largely unaffected by the weather.
Jim Leyland, former manager of the Detroit Tigers, served as grand marshal of that city’s Thanksgiving Day parade, which is billed as the nation’s second largest, behind New York’s. Revelers braved snow showers and slick roads.
In Washington on Wednesday, President Barack Obama pardoned two 38-pound turkeys named Popcorn and Caramel, fulfilling the annual presidential tradition.
In a holiday edition of his weekend radio and Internet address, Obama gave thanks for the country’s founders, the generations who followed, and members of the military, and their families, for the sacrifices they make.
He expressed gratitude for the freedoms service members defend, including speech, religion and the right to choose America’s leaders. And he had kind words for those who work to make America a more compassionate place.
Also Wednesday, two American astronauts on board the International Space Station, Mike Hopkins and Rick Mastracchio, released a video from 260 miles above Earth showing off their traditional Thanksgiving meal: irradiated smoked turkey, thermostabilized yams, cornbread dressing, potatoes, freeze-dried asparagus, baked beans, bread, cobbler and dehydrated green bean casserole.
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Associated Press writers Jake Pearson, Seth Borenstein, Jim Kuhnhenn and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
