The New York Police Department deployed more officers Thursday than previous year due to heightened concerns following the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris.
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Speaking at a news conference Wednesday night, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “I think people are coming here from all over the city, all over the metropolitan region, all over the country to be a part of this parade”. He told reporters this morning that this should be the “biggest” in history.
City leaders expect about three million people along the parade route.
Tradition has it, that numerous stores first employees were new immigrants from Europe and proud of their heritage and the festivals they had enjoyed in Europe. They will be chiming in throughout where their observations and reactions.
And of course the most popular character in the parade every year is Santa Claus… who appears at the end of the parade… announcing the beginning of the holiday season.
Photos from the area show officers perched atop buildings near the route.
Police added members of a new counter-terrorism unit to parade security. Green bean casserole, too.
“I sleep overnight here”, said Galea, 90, of West Branch. We all have Thanksgiving dinner here.The family was among tens of thousands of spectators who lined Woodward Avenue for Americas Thanksgiving Parade.
Macy’s says this year’s parade has more than 8,000 participants when you include the balloon handlers, clowns and marching bands.
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Retailers that started opening on Thanksgiving in recent years have settled into times that don’t interfere with the turkey feast. Most of the more than a dozen major retailers like Macys, Target and Kohls are sticking with their 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. openings.
