Macy's parade balloons fly, but lower than usual
Last Updated: Thursday, November 23, 2006 | 9:48 AM ET
CBC News
The big balloons are flying in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City Thursday, but are lower than usual because of wind gusts.
The parade, celebrating its 80th anniversary, started winding its way through the four-kilometre route at 9 a.m. ET.
A balloon in staging area ahead of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. The large balloons were allowed to fly despite the high winds, but at lower altitudes.
Police and Macy's officials ordered the balloons be flown lower than usual because wind gusts are higher than 56 km/h.
The city passed the new regulation last year after a balloon in the parade slammed into a lamppost after catching a gust of wind. Two people were injured.
The parade includes seven massive balloons, including SpongeBob SquarePants and Big Bird, which each measure about 19 metres. There are also 48 smaller-sized balloons.
Macy's started the parade in 1924 as a celebration for its employees. It was suspended between 1942-1944 so the rubber used in the balloons could be donated to the war effort.
The annual parade is shown on national television and tens of thousands of people line the route that starts on the western edge of Central Park and travels south down Broadway through Times Square.
In 1997, a woman was injured during the parade when the gigantic Cat in the Hat balloon caught in a 64 km/h wind gust and knocked a light pole into her.
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