1:04
- ABC News
- November 28, 2019
Balloons braved winds, flew at Thanksgiving Parade
The Ronald McDonald balloon did not make it.
1:04
Balloon handlers and a specially trained NYPD sergeant were on hand during the parade to monitor wind gusts and determine the safest course, respectively.
Three smaller balloons and an art balloon designed by artist Yayoi Kusama did not leave the staging area, according to Macy's.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/macys-4-gty-er-191127_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/macys-3-gty-er-191127_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
However, the retail giant said the parade \"once again brought the nation incredible entertainment kicking off the holiday season with a grand spectacle.\"
Before the parade, officials expected all the balloons to fly, with some flying higher than others. For example, SpongeBob, being the largest, was a different consideration than one of the smaller balloons.
Olaf's flying height, at more than 5 feet tall, was also at risk.
Will SpongeBob fly?
— NYPD Midtown North (@NYPDMTN) November 27, 2019
Midtown North’s very own Sergeant Patrick Mullane will once again be the official Macy’s Ballon Safety Sergeant for SpongeBob SquarePants. He will make the determination on whether SpongeBob will fly based on wind conditions.
Live 💨 updates here @NYPDMTN pic.twitter.com/ZNbZJglY6p
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/macys-2-gty-er-191127_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
Bad weather has only kept the Macy's balloons from flying once -- in 1971.
Yet dangerous winds have wreaked havoc on the parade, when the balloons did fly. In 1997, the Cat in the Hat balloon knocked down a light pole and four people were injured.
Photos: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Through the Years
One woman was in a coma for nearly a month due to the serious head injury she sustained, according to the Associated Press.
This year, thousands of police officers were on duty for the parade on Manhattan's Upper West Side, despite the absence of a credible threat.
ABC News' Dan Peck and Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.
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