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

New York police said they arrested at least 21 people after protesters lined the parade route with Palestinian flags and a banner reading “Don’t celebrate genocide.”

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

Due to the wet weather, this year’s parade featured plenty of ponchos and umbrellas, as well as the usual array of giant balloons, floats and star-studded performances.

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

The lineup was a far cry from the parade’s original incarnation a century ago, which featured 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 lots of brass bands and lots of clowns, followed by the grand finale where Santa Claus rides through Manhattan and ushers in the Christmas season.

This year’s parade featured 17 giant helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 inflatable novelties and traditions, 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 star T-Pain, country duo Dan + Shay, The War and Treaty, The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Broadway veteran Lea Salonga and “Glow “-Actress and Macy’s spokesperson Alison Brie.

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

Sarah Wallace tells us what happened on the parade route.

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

The parade began at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) 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 it – the parade has only been canceled three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II – but organizers monitor wind speeds during the celebrations to ensure the large balloons can fly safely.

Temperatures are over 20 degrees Celsius, it’s raining all morning, and the wind is blowing around 10 miles per hour (16 km/h), which is well within the acceptable range for Snoopy, Bluey, and their friends to take to the air allow. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying the full-size balloons when sustained winds exceed 23 miles per hour (37 km/h) or gusts exceed 35 miles per hour (56 km/h).

The parade will air on NBC with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and stream 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 began? Join NBC New York’s Jennifer Vázquez on a historical dive into the popular event and how immigrant communities helped create the tradition.