Warm temperatures and the holiday spirit drew huge crowds to the Thanksgiving Day parade despite increased security after a terrorist attack in Paris earlier this month placed the city on alert. NY1's Amanda Farinacci filed the following report.

With plenty to look at in the sky and on the street at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, it could be easy to miss the thousands of police officers who patrolled the route this year.

But many spectators who turned out for the holiday tradition took note of the men and women in blue.

"You see policemen in every corner," said one paradegoer. "And not just one or two, you see them in bundles."

"Pretty much everywhere," said another. "I saw them on the top of buildings, in the street. It's a good thing."

With no specific threat directed against the parade — but the November 13 terror attacks in Paris fresh on the minds of New Yorkers and visitors —  the NYPD took no chances with security.

As in years past bomb sniffing dogs were on hand, mounted police officers rode along the two-and-a-half-mile route and police helicopters patrolled overhead.

About 20% more officers were assigned to the parade this year, including plainclothes police to blend in with the crowd, and others from a heavily armed counter-terrorism unit.

"We have the strategic response group and the critical response command and you'll see them," said NYPD Chief of Department James O'Neill. "They're highly trained police officers; they're here to support the emergency services unit and some of them have M-4 rifles. So I think it's important that people have that sense of security."

For many we spoke with, travelling to New York and spending time here is part of their family tradition, one that won't change despite increased security concerns.

"I'm not gonna be daunted  or terrified," one said, "I feel quite safe."

"My wife said, if it's your time, it's your time," said another. "And I knew that the police had been working very hard to train and they always are very safe and secure."

"The people here in New York City are not intimidated," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "You can see it here today."

The Fire Department also assigned specially trained extra units to the parade, and the FDNY and the NYPD say we can expect to see increased security throughout the holiday season.