Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held annually in New York City on Thanksgiving. The parade includes floats and balloons representing popular children's characters and represents the official kickoff of the holiday shopping season.http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/101124-thanksgiving-2010-dinner-recipes-pilgrims-day-parade-history-facts/ Immediately following Thanksgiving is Black Friday, one of the busiest retail shopping days of the year.http://www2.wjtv.com/jtv/news/local/article/shoppers_ready_for_black_friday_madness/223306/

Every year, some 8,000 participants, consisting of marching bands, performance groups, cheerleaders, clowns, giant balloon operators, float passengers and Santa Claus, take part in the three hour long event.http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-has-pinellas-band-cheerleaders-and-dancers/1135981 The parade is commenced with the expression "Let's Have a Parade" exclaimed by the ringleader who also escorts the parade.http://www.marching.com/news/2010/2010-macys-parade-lineup/

In 1924, the Macy's department store experimented with the first Thanksgiving day parade. The first balloons appeared in 1928. In the 1930s, Macy's began early collaboration with the Walt Disney company, featuring a giant Mickey Mouse balloon. During World War II, the parade was suspended for three years, and the rubber used to make the parade's balloons was donated to the war effort.http://www.nycvp.com/frames/theater/thanksgiving_parade_info.htm

Over the years, the parade has become a Thanksgiving tradition. More than 2 million spectators gather in the streets of Manhattan annually for the two and a half mile parade, and even more gather around their television sets to watch NBC's coverage of the event. The parade is traditionally hosted by the television stations morning news program hosts, like Matt Lauer and Merideth Vieira. In recent years, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been offered as a streaming online video for viewers who opt to watch the event via the Internet.http://br.sys-con.com/node/732905