Nutcracker balloon knocks down Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marcher, video shows

Don Sweeney

A Nutcracker-themed balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade struck a marcher Thursday morning in New York City, video shows.

A video shows the giant balloon dropping to the street as handlers try to control it in high winds, then striking and knocking down a marcher trying to help, Storyfull reported.

Onlookers also reported the mishap.

A Ronald McDonald balloon in the parade also partly deflated along the route, the New York Post reported.

The sixteen giant balloons had earlier been given the all-clear to fly over the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by New York police.

“Hey Astronaut Snoopy, we are clear for take-off!” the NYPD post reads. “Did you know that each balloon at the Thanksgiving Day Parade has an NYPD supervisor assigned to it? They train with @Macys to ensure the safety of everyone, and they have given us the “all clear” for this morning!”

There had been concerns earlier this week that forecast wind gusts would force the parade to ground the enormous balloons, the New York Post reported. If winds pick up, the balloons may still be grounded.

The 16 giant balloons, ranging from 31 to 67 feet high, require teams of up to 90 handlers and can be flown up to 55 feet over the parade route through New York, NBC News reports.

Balloons planned for this year’s parade include Snoopy, wearing an astronaut suit to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, and Olaf from “Frozen,” according to the network. The parade began at 9 a.m. Eastern.