“With a retinue of clowns, freaks, animals and floats, the bewhiskered man in purple, in sight of hundreds of individuals, arrives at 9 o’clock …”
So started the first-ever New York Instances protection of the first-ever Thanksgiving parade placed on by Macy’s division retailer on Nov. 27, 1924. Ninety-seven years, 11 months and 28 days later, 10-year-old Lynden Alford stood alongside the parade route at Columbus Circle screaming her head off on the marching bands, baton twirlers and, after all, large balloon characters — and taking umbrage on the long-ago parade reporter’s characterization of her favourite spectacle.
“Freaks?” Lynden exclaimed in horror as an individual dressed as a cookie tossed confetti over her hot-pink hooded jacket and matching pants. “These are folks that entertain us and have been entertaining us since 1924!”
On Thursday, the 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade wended its means throughout the West Facet of Manhattan as soon as once more. Its retinue of large helium balloon characters, from SpongeBob SquarePants to Bluey the canine, bobbed throughout an ideal blue sky.
Beneath them trundled elaborate floats, together with one from Toys “R” Us that includes Geoffrey the Giraffe spinning DJ decks, and one other formed like a large alligator with a duplicate of the French Quarter of New Orleans on its again that was despatched crawling down Central Park West by the Louisiana Workplace of Tourism. It was the second full parade because the coronavirus pandemic pressured a truncated, blocklong model, and the pomp and extravagance was as soon as once more cheered down the avenues.
Bouncing within the crowd, Lynden, a fourth grader from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, thought of the lengthy historical past of the parade, and she or he grew heated in her protection of the spectacle.
“They don’t seem to be freaks, not clowns, they’re excellent simply the way in which they’re!” she mentioned.
The Clovis North Instructional Heart Bronco Band from Fresno, Calif., marched previous. “This highschool got here all the way in which from California to indicate us how they shine,” she mentioned, her voice attaining a squeal. “I respect them!”
A police officer close by turned to her. “No extra sugar for you,” he mentioned.
“However I really like sugar!” Lynden exclaimed.