Video: Millions line New York streets for Thanksgiving parade Millions of people lined the streets of New York on Thursday to watch the 86th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the largest event held in the city since Superstorm Sandy caused widespread damage throughout the region. Crowds along the parade route cheered a host of giant character balloons, including a 60-foot-tall Kermit the Frog balloon and an enormous Charlie Brown. The parade, which typically draws 3.5 million spectators and 50 million television viewers, also featured 28 floats, 11 marching bands, thousands of dancers, cheerleaders, and Santa Claus. Celebrity performers included Whoopi Goldberg, Carly Rae Jepsen and the Muppets. The parade was the largest public event held in New York City since the storm, which killed 132 people in the United States and Canada.