PHOTOS: 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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.

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Performers prepare at the 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images for Macy’s Inc./Eugene Gologursky)

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Al Roker and Butter Man appear at the 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images for Macy’s Inc./Eugene Gologursky)

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Bebe Rexha atop the Jennie-O float at the 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images for Macy’s Inc./Eugene Gologursky)

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Karol G and Olay’s “Her Future is STEM-sational” float pictured at the 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images for Macy's Inc./Eugene Gologursky)

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Tori Kelly attends the 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images for Macy’s Inc./Eugene Gologursky)

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Keke Palmer attends the 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images for Macy’s Inc./Eugene Gologursky)

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A child wearing a mask sits on her father’s shoulder to catch a glimpse of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images/Alexi Rosenfeld)

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A New York City police officer takes a photo for a passerby as the modified Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade moves along a few blocks away in the background, in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, crowds of onlookers were not allowed to attend the annual parade. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

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The “Boss Baby” balloon flies during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images/John Lamparski)

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Spectators in costume stand at the staging area barricades during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images/John Lamparski)

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People attempt to take photos as the last floats that are part of the modified Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade move away in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, crowds of onlookers were not allowed to attend the annual parade. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

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Participants dancing in the modified Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are seen from a barricade about two blocks away in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, crowds of onlookers were not allowed to attend the annual parade. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

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Spectators take photos as a large balloon makes its way through the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade behind heavy police barricades on November 26, 2020 in New York City. (Getty Images/Scott Heins)

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People watch the modified Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from about two blocks away in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, crowds of onlookers were not allowed to attend the annual parade. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

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The Boss Baby balloon is deflated as it ends its appearance during the modified Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. The annual parade goes on but only after great changes as compared to previous years due to the current deadly pandemic. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

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A float carrying the characters Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus rolls along at it nears the end of the modified Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, crowds of onlookers were not allowed to attend the annual parade. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

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Floats that are part of the modified Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are seen from the Empire State Building in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, no crowds of onlookers were allowed to attend the annual parade. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

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A police canine rests on a float that is part of the modified Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, crowds of onlookers were not allowed to attend the annual parade. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

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A marching band waits along 34th Street for their turn to perform during a pre-taping of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in front of the flagship store in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. At last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the big fear was high wind. This year it’s a deadly pandemic. But the show will go one thanks to an overhaul and creative thinking. (AP/Mary Altaffer)

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Performers walk off the set during a pre-taping of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in front of the flagship store in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. At last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the big fear was high wind. This year it’s a deadly pandemic. But the show will go one thanks to an overhaul and creative thinking. (AP/Mary Altaffer)