The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade was drenched in rain and briefly disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters on Thursday.

New York City police said they arrested at least 21 people after protesters sat on the parade route carrying Palestinian flags and a banner reading “Don’t Celebration Genocide.”

People protesting Israel’s war in Gaza also interrupted the parade last year.

Thanks to the wet weather, this year’s parade saw plenty of ponchos and umbrellas, in addition to the usual line-up of giant balloons, floats and star-studded performances.

The latest edition of the annual holiday tradition featured new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, an ode to Big Apple coffee and bagels, performances by Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel and Kylie Minogue, and more.

The lineup was a far cry from the first incarnation of the parade a century ago, with floats depicting scenes from Mother Goose, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Miss Muffet and the Spider, and other fairy tales.

However, some things remained the same. Just like in 1924, there are many marching bands and many clowns, followed by the grand finale in which Santa Claus rides through Manhattan and ushers in the holidays.

This year’s parade featured 17 giant helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.

Other highlights included reality TV star Ariana Madix, hip-hop’s T-Pain, country duo Dan + Shay, The War and Treaty, The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Broadway veteran Lea Salonga and “Glow” actor and Macy’s spokesperson Alison Brie.

A new float spotlighted food brand Rao’s, featuring a knight and dragon in battle, made with real pasta elements. Another celebrated the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with images of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra and a gorilla.

Sarah Wallace brings us what happened from the parade route.

“The work we do, the opportunity to impact millions of people and bring a few hours of joy on Thanksgiving morning, is what motivates us every day,” said Will Coss, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The parade started at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends four miles away around noon at the Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for performances.

The rain doesn’t stop anything – the parade has only been canceled three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II – but organizers keep an eye on wind speeds during the festivities to make sure it’s safe for the big balloons to fly to fly.

Temperatures are around 40 degrees Celsius, with rain during the morning and wind speeds of about 10 miles per hour, well within the acceptable range for Snoopy, Bluey and their friends to fly. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 km per hour) or if gusts exceed 35 mph (56 km per hour).

The parade will air on NBC with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and air on the network’s Peacock service. Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza will host a Spanish simulcast on Telemundo.

Have you ever wondered how the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started? Join NBC New York’s Jennifer Vázquez for a historical dive into the beloved event and how immigrant communities helped create this tradition.