This is the 98th year for the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and we are ready for some pre-turkey fun, people!

This year's event will feature 22 ginormous character balloons, 33 dazzling floats, 78 balloonicles (that's an inflatable maneuvered down the parade route by an inside vehicle), 11 marching bands, 28 clown crews and 24 performers, not to mention the big man himself, Santa Claus.

The parade kicks off at West 77th St. and Central Park West at 8:30 AM, heads down CPW to Columbus Circle, where it turns onto Central Park South and then heads down 6th Ave., finally winding up at Macy's in Herald Square (34th St.) at noon. Early risers arrive around 6 AM on the west side of Central Park West from West 75th to West 61st streets. There's limited viewing on 6th Ave. between West 34th and West 38th streets and on West 34th between 6th and 7th avenues, due to national television broadcasting, so pro tip: head to Columbus Circle or Central Park West for the best views. Got that?

But let's get to the important stuff, like the balloons! The newbies joining this year include Minnie Mouse, Gabby and Marshall from PAW Patrol Returning favorites? Stuart the Minion, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Pillsbury Doughboy and many more.

And of course, the entertainment. Check it out: Charlie D'Amelio, Jimmy Fallon & the Roots, T-Pain, Joey McIntyre and the Temptations, to name a few. Phew! 

Can't make it here on time? The show will air from 8:30 AM to noon on NBC, as well as be live-streamed on Peacock and simulcast in Spanish on Telemundo. Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker from The Today Show will host.

The holidays have begun!

Image via ALEXIUZ/iStock