Balloons fly at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

                                         

Spider-Man, Snoopy, Power Rangers, Wizard of OZ and all the other famous superhero balloon characters marched on Thursday in Macy's 87th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. "Let the balloons fly!" Macy's tweeted.

New York City officials had warned earlier that winds could force the parade's iconic balloons to fly lower than normal -- or not to fly at all. But on Thursday morning, the gust died down. The sky brighter and streets crowded with millions of spectators.

   

More than 8,000 participants marched through the streets of Manhattan at the sound of the time-honored words "Let's Have a Parade." Against a backdrop of more than 3.5 million spectators and more than 50 million viewers nationwide, the parade's signature elements, including its giant balloons, floats of fantasy, performers and the one-and-only Santa Claus, will ring in the holiday season with unrivaled celebration.

The star power on Thanksgiving Day comes courtesy of hosts Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie of NBC's "Today," and performers from music, film, sports, theater and television. Joining the festivities this year are the Big Apple Circus, Kristin Chenoweth, Cherokee National Youth Choir, Chica and the gang from Sprout, Cirque du Soleil, Gavin DeGraw, Brett Eldredge, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots with the cast of "Sesame Street," Fifth Harmony, Florida Georgia Line, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande, Jack Hannah, Megan Hilty, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, Sandra Lee, Cher Lloyd, Austin Mahone, Mannheim Steamroller, Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri, NFL legends Bart Oates, Amani Toomer and Hines Ward, NHL legends Cam Neely and Mike Richter, as well as Kellie Pickler, The Robertson family from A&E's hit series "Duck Dynasty," Debby Ryan, Richard Simmons and more.