People line up to watch Thanksgiving Day parades in New York City and Charlotte

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the annual parade of giant balloons through the streets of Manhattan.

By: Rachel Gallaher | WNCT
Published: November 27, 2009

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the annual parade of giant balloons through the streets of Manhattan.
Millions of people watched this year's Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
There were some changes this year.
The parade did not go down Broadway as usual.
Instead the balloons and bands marched through midtown Manhattan.
This is the first time in 83 years the parade did not include Broadway.
New seating changes near Times Square prompted the change.
None of this stopped almost 3.5 million people from showing up along the parade route.
"We’re just very thankful that the wind's not blowing, it's comfortable out here and we've got all these good people behind us," said Warren Williams, who watched the parade.
The change in the route meant some sharp turns.
Balloon handlers had to be careful to keep the crowd favorites from crashing into a building.
But the Macy’s parade wasn’t the only getting some attention.
People in Charlotte came out for their own tradition closer to home.
The city hosted the 63rd annual Carolinas Thanksgiving Day parade.
People from across the state and South Carolina took part.
The weather cooperated nicely for the event.
The parade was recognized as the fourth largest thanksgiving parade in the country in 2008.