Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Live Stream 2017: Start Time, Route Map And How To Watch

With Thanksgiving inching closer, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is slated to make its annual return. Beginning in 1924, the event has served as a way to kick off the holiday season. The yearly celebration is expected to bring in more than 3.5 million attendees and more than 50 million national viewers.

The parade is set to begin at 9:00 a.m. EST from 77th Street and Central Park West. The event will proceed through Columbus Circle, turn down Central Park South and migrate towards 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas. The parade will bow out at 7th Avenue and 3th Street.

"For more than 90 years, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has signaled the start of the holiday season for millions of families," Susan Tercero, group vice president of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, said in a Nov. 1 press release. "We are thrilled to once again come together as a nation to give this gift of joy and wonder to all."

"Our incredible team has planned a fantastic spectacle featuring an amazing line-up of giant character balloons, floats of fantasy, the nation's best marching bands and performance groups, a dazzling array of musical artists, all coming together to herald the arrival of the one-and-only Santa Claus," Tercero added.

Grandstand tickets aren't for sale to the general public, but there will be 2.5 miles of public viewing around New York City. There will be limited public viewing on the south side of 34th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue. The parade will also stream on NBC for those not in attendance as well as on NBC's website and app. Verizon's YouTube page will air the 3-hour event in a 360-degree live stream.

"Today Show" hosts Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker will host the 3-hour broadcast from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. Telemundo will also air a Spanish version of the telecast hosted by Carlos Ponce, Jessica Carrillo and Karim Mendiburu.

Hitting the streets of New York City aboard Macy's signature parade floats are a variety of high-profile musical acts. Smokey Robinson, Goo Goo Dolls, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Sabrina Carpenter, Dustin Lynch, Bebe Rexha and Flo Rida are scheduled to perform Thanksgiving Day, among others.

Broadway shows will also be front and center at this year's event with special performances by the casts of "SpongeBob SquarePants — The Broadway Musical," "Dear Evan Hansen," "Anastasia" and "Once On This Island." The Radio City Rockettes are also gearing up to showcase their high kicks this holiday season with their annual appearance.

The parade's balloon line-up has always incorporated a number of iconic pop culture characters, with the 91st year being no exception to this. Four new balloons will make its debut Thanksgiving Day, including Olaf from "Frozen" and Dr. Seuss' the Grinch from Illumination Entertainment, among others. Giant balloons for Hello Kitty, SpongeBob SquarePants, Charlie Brown and DreamWorks' "Trolls" are also slated to return to this year's special.

Macy's completed a successful test run Saturday for the parade's giant balloons.

Head to Macy's website to learn more about this year's parade.