Beloved characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants soared through the skies above New York City on Thursday and bands marched along the streets below as the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ushered in the holiday season.

The parade started on Manhattan's Upper West Side making its way alongside Central Park in front of big crowds and a national television audience before ending in front of Macy's flagship store on 34th Street.

Among the big names who performed is Cher, who just released her first Christmas album. The Oscar-, Emmy- and Grammy Award-winner had a prime spot — performing just before the arrival of Santa Claus, which marks the end of the parade.

Other celebrities and musical groups that took part include Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Jessie James Decker, Pentatonix and Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke. The parade also included performances from the casts of some Broadway shows.

The parade was briefly disrupted when about a half-dozen protesters in jumpsuits covered in fake blood glued themselves to the street just in front of a float carrying characters from the fast food giant McDonald's. They carried a banner that said “Free Palestine” and “Genocide then. Genocide now" and were taken into custody.

The parade continued as police worked.

New balloons debuting this year include Leo the lizard, a character from a Netflix film, who is more than 40 feet (12.5 meters) tall, as well as ones that have been there before — like SpongeBob, coming in at 44 feet (13.4 meters).

Some characters, like Snoopy, have been in the parade for many years, but this year's balloon is a new Beagle Scout Snoopy version — celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first appearance in the Peanuts comics.

In total there were 16 character balloons, 26 floats, 32 heritage and novelty balloons, 12 marching bands, and more than 700 clowns. They turned the streets of New York City into a magical experience for all who attended, including first-timers from out of state like California.

“I’m just grateful to be able to be with family, and be out here, and experience all of this,” said Dorothy Garcia, who is attending this year’s parade, a birthday gift from her family. “I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You know, it doesn’t just happen for everybody, and I’m just very thankful that I had the opportunity to come out and enjoy the parade.”

NY1 also spoke to attendees from the Midwest and the south.

“My daughter watches the parade every year with my mom. And this year, we decided to come from Florida to watch it together,” said Karen Ivery, whose college-aged daughter was by her side. She said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision to come up to NYC, and a true bucket-list moment.

Tiny New Yorkers along the 2.5-mile parade route chimed in on their favorites, including 11-year-old Brian Chabla.

“Pikachu. Eevee. And, almost all of them,” he said, donning his SpongeBob sweatshirt.

This year, the NYPD beefed up security because of the conflict in the Middle East, as well as a Wednesday incident at the U.S.-Canada border. However, law enforcement officials stressed all along that there were no credible threats to the parade.