The 2016 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade marks the 90th anniversary of the celebrated New York holiday procession. In 1924, the Thanksgiving day event debuted not as a party devoted to turkey day but as a Christmas parade. This year the fall attraction, which does include a high-profile visit from Santa Claus, is expected to draw more than 3.5 million visitors to Manhattan and 50 million viewers to their TVs.

Watching at home

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 24 on NBC and will be hosted by "Today" stars Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker.

What to expect

The Radio City Rockettes will bring their high-flying kicks to the parade and the casts of Broadway shows including "Holiday Inn" will be performing on 34th Street. Anyone anxious to see NBC's upcoming "Hairspray Live!" can preview the show by catching the parade's sneak peek.

Among the celebrities and performers on parade: Old Bridge's Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, Tony Bennett, Aloe Blacc, De La Soul, Sandra Lee, Sarah McLachlan, Regina Spektor and 12-year-old "America's Got Talent" winner, ukeleleist and singer Grace VanderWaal.

If you go

While grandstand tickets are not for sale to the public, you can find a prime viewing spot along the 2.5-mile parade route (see map here). The parade starts at 77th Street and Central Park West at 9 a.m., moves along Central Park West to Columbus Circle, turns on Central Park South onto Sixth Avenue and concludes at 34th Street near Macy's Herald Square.

Time Out New York says the best places to view the parade include Central Park West at 75th Street, at the start of the route (so arrive extra early -- as early as 6 a.m. -- if you plan to scout out a space there), the second and third floors of the Shops at Columbus Circle, which open at 9 a.m., and Sixth Avenue (you should probably arrive by 7 a.m.) between 59th to 38th streets.

Central Park is closed for grandstand seating not open to the public, as is the span from 38th Street to Herald Square, while the south side of 34th between Broadway and Seventh Avenue offers only limited views.

Follow @Macys on Twitter for route updates. Also: anyone attending the parade can head to the mezzanine level of Macy's (151 W. 34th St.) to collect a savings pass for 10 percent off a purchase.

The balloons!

There will be 16 giant character balloons on top of 27 novelty balloons, "balloonicles" and "trycaloons" at the parade. All balloons and floats are prepared at the Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie before heading to New York.

New balloons are inspired by the upcoming movie "Trolls," the "Diary of A Wimpy Kid" books and movies, while Charlie Brown makes his big return to the parade. Other returning balloons include Felix the Cat, who will be carried on sticks, just like he was in 1927 for his first parade appearance; the Sinclair Oil Dino; Red from Angry Birds; Elf on the Shelf; Scrat from "Ice Age"; Hello Kitty; the Red Power Ranger; Ronald McDonald; Thomas the Tank Engine and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Anyone looking to relive the history of parades past can download the free Macy's Parade Time Traveler app from the iTunes App Store or Google Play.

See Macy's full balloon lineup here. For more, visit macys.com/parade.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.