In a week of heavy national news, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade offered something surprisingly rare: a calm, comfortable holiday morning in New York.

Temperatures hovered in the low 40s — brisk, but manageable — and a steady wind kept the giant balloons flying lower than usual. Instead of creating chaos, the breeze just added a bit of winter character. Crowds bundled up, grabbed coffee and watched floats roll past in a mood that felt more hometown-holiday than high-gloss spectacle.

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Performers from Broadway, major pop acts and marching bands filled the route with familiar holiday energy. A family-friendly mix of artists included Elmo and Christopher Jackson, Shaggy and Busta Rhymes,

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