Though the COVID-19 pandemic upended most traditions this holiday season, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marched on with changes.
The New York City fixture still featured balloons, dancers, floats, Broadway shows and Santa — albeit heavily edited for safety.
“Traditions like this are comforting and they’re uplifting,” Susan Tercero, executive producer of the parade, told The Associated Press. “New York has always been a tough city. It bounces back. It takes its blows and then it continues on. And I think it’s extremely important for us to be that display this holiday season. Regardless of what’s happened, New York needs to be that beacon of light in the darkness and this parade, I think, is symbolic of that.”
This year’s route concentrated events to a one-block stretch of 34th Street in front of the retailer’s flagship Manhattan store. Many performances were pre-taped, and most of the parade’s performers were locally based to cut down on travel.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
