Revelers crowd NYC streets for Thanksgiving Parade

Eighty-first Street is illuminated as the preparation of balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade takes place, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 in New York. The parade will be celebrating its 82nd year Nov. 27, 2008.(AP Photo/Stephen Chernin) (Stephen Chernin - AP)

NEW YORK -- The 82nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade wound its way through Manhattan streets under sunny skies on Thursday, as thousands of marchers carried giant balloons past throngs of holiday revelers cheering them along the route.

Quincy Kersbergen of Wyckoff, N.J., found a prime viewing spot _ perched on a police barricade near the beginning of the parade _ and proclaimed herself a big fan of a giant dog balloon.

"This is just fantastic!" the 11-year-old Kersbergen said. "So amazing to be here in person! I'm just so excited about today!"

New to the revelry this year were Buzz Lightyear, the square-jawed, action-figure astronaut from the 1995 film "Toy Story," Horton, the compassionate elephant of Dr. Seuss books, and a five-story Smurf, a blue, gnome-like creature popularized by a TV show that began in 1981. Old favorites like Kermit and the Energizer Bunny are also back.

About 3.5 million spectators were expected to view the parade in person, and 50 million more to watch it on television. The 2.5-mile route wound from Central Park to Herald Square, in front of Macy's flagship store.

Crews on Wednesday inflated the 13 giant balloons and 31 smaller ones. Each giant balloon requires more than 5,000 cubic feet of helium.

Among the smaller balloons was a newcomer that pays tribute to graffiti artist Keith Haring, who died in 1990. The parade also was to feature 28 floats, 10 marching bands and performances by Miley Cyrus, Trace Adkins, James Taylor and the Radio City Rockettes.

"She's just the coolest!" 6-year-old Isabella Muccio said of Cyrus.

At a staging area near Macy's, people milled around in costumes: clowns, cowboys, pirates, chefs _ someone carrying a fake pie the size of a Christmas wreath.

"I'm so excited! ... The crowds, just seeing it in person!" said parade-goer Phyllis Grodnicki of Plainsboro, N.J.

The parade, which began in 1924 and was canceled for two years during World War II, also provides a coveted yearly spotlight for Broadway productions. This year, cast members of "Hair," "In the Heights," "The Little Mermaid," "South Pacific" and "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" were slated to perform.

In Detroit, thousands braved near-freezing temperatures in hats, mittens and scarves to stake prime spots to view the city's parade, which has been held for more than 80 years.