Balloons and spirits soar at Macy's parade

• Cheering throngs were bundled against a 30-degree chill%2C but the sun was shining in New York City
• The parade featured 30 full-size floats%2C 11 marching bands%2C 900 clowns and 1%2C600 cheerleaders
• Bad weather kept the balloons from flying in the 1971 Macy%27s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Snoopy, SpongeBob SquarePants and Toothless the dragon got their time in the sky Thursday after Macy's allowed balloons to fly in its annual Thanksgiving Day Parade despite concerns over weather conditions, and the procession took place in New York City without a hitch.

Those Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons — and 13 other giant balloons — were threatened with grounding if sustained winds exceeded 23 mph and gusts exceeded 34 mph.

But the New York Police Department decided Thursday morning that the winds were calm enough for the 16 giant character balloons to lift off.

"We thought they'd find a way to pull it off," said parade-goer John Mispagel, of San Jose, Calif. "It's really fun seeing so many people having such a great time."

Balloon handlers kept a tight grip on their inflated characters and held them fairly close to the ground in tree-lined areas.

Mispagel and his wife, Susan, said Sonic the Hedgehog got caught on a tree while rounding a corner near the start of the parade route; handlers used cutters on a rope to free the balloon.

The cheering throngs were bundled against a 30-degree chill, but the sun was shining. Some in the crowd lifted small children onto their shoulders.

An excited 9-year-old Lily Thomolaris, of Pittsburgh, was excited to "see all the balloons." But she especially thought a big turkey was really cool.

Balloons have only been grounded once in the parade's 87-year history, when bad weather kept them from flying in 1971.

Weather has caused parade organizers — and watchers — troubles in the past. In 1997, winds drove a Cat in the Hat balloon into a metal pole. The ensuing damage left a woman in a coma for almost a month before she recovered. In 2005, an M&M balloon knocked over a streetlight that injured two sisters.

After the 1997 accident, Macy's worked with New York City and "participated in a full review of the incident," says Macy's spokesman Orlando Veras. The new wind guidelines where put into place after that review.

Following the 2005 incident, Macy's updated "its system of monitoring weather patterns at different heights at key points on the route," says Veras.

In addition to weather issues, controversy swirled around two floats.

Animal rights activists are upset that a SeaWorld float, which features two 27-foot orcas, is joining the parade. They claim SeaWorld doesn't treat its whales well.

SeaWorld says the accusations have "absolutely no basis" and that "the men and women who care for these animals at SeaWorld are dedicated in every respect to their health and well-being."

And ranchers were rankled that singer Joan Jett was slated to perform on the South Dakota tourism float, saying the vegetarian and animal-rights activist wasn't a good representative for their beef-producing state.

Macy's said the parade does not engage in social commentary or political debate.

More than 50 million people were expected to see at least part of the parade on TV or live.

The parade featured 30 full-size floats, 11 marching bands, 900 clowns and 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers.

Contributing: Doyle Rice; The Associated Press