Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2017: How To Watch

NEW YORK, NY — Turkey. Stuffing. Potatoes. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Each is an integral part of Thanksgiving celebrations across the country, but only one takes over a big chunk of Midtown Manhattan every Thanksgiving Day.

The 91st annual parade kicks off at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23 at 77th Street and Central Park West. A cornucopia of marchers, floats and the signature giant balloons will march downtown along the 2.5-mile route to the storied Macy's flagship store at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue.

Scores of New Yorkers will help carry more than 30 of those giant balloons depicting classic characters old and new. Four balloons are making their debut this year — Olaf the Snowman from "Frozen," Jett from "Super Wings," Chase from "PAW Patrol" and Dr. Seuss' the Grinch.

The ballons aren't the only stars of the show. The parade's got a star-studded lineup of performances from Gwen Stefani, 98 Degrees, Common, Smokey Robinson, Andy Grammer and others. A troupe of celebrities — including Harry Connick Jr., Martha Stewart, Thalia, Jane Krakowski, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Harvey, Gaten Matarazzo, Chrissy Metz, and John O'Hurley — will do a special song-and-dance routine to the tune "Dancing in the Street."

Here's how to check out the parade in person or from home if you've got to start early on Thanksgiving dinner. You can also check out some behind-the-scenes work the night before the parade, when the balloons are inflated on the Upper West Side.

Watching In Person

You can watch the parade along Central Park West between 75th and 59th streets from 9 to 10:30 a.m., or along Sixth Avenue between 59th and 34th streets later on. The parade hits the Sixth Avenue portion of the route around 9:30 a.m.

Macy's says not to line up on Sixth Avenue between 34th and 38th streets, as the TV broadcast setup makes it tough to see the parade.

Don't be afraid to get an early start — some people start camping out as early as 6 a.m.

Anyone with special needs can get access to the route by calling the YAI National Institute at 212-273-6181 or visiting that organization's website.

Watching At Home

NBC will broadcast the parade festivities live — as it has every year since 1948 — starting at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. NBC personalities Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker will host the three-hour special.

Click here for more info on the broadcast.

See The Balloons Get Inflated

Parade helpers will start inflating the giant balloons at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 and work until 8 p.m. outside the Museum of Natural History, located at Central Park West and 79th Street.

To get there, enter the inflation area at 74th Street and Columbus Avenue. You'll be guided around the viewing area and then exit at 81st Street near the subway station.

Click here for more information about the inflation festivities.

Road Closures

If you're driving in Manhattan on Wednesday or Thursday, you're going to have a tough time getting across town. Here's a rundown of all the streets that will be closed for the parade and inflation festivities, courtesy of the NYPD.

8 a.m. Wednesday

• West 74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenues

Noon Wednesday

• Central Park West from West 73rd to 85th Streets
• West 73rd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 74th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 75th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 76th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 77th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 78th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 80th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 81st Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 82nd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 83rd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 84th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 85th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• Central Park Transverse Road at Central Park West and West 81 St. (Both Directions)

10 p.m. Wednesday

• Central Park West from 59th Street to 86th Street
• 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue

Thursday

• Broadway between West 34th Street and West 40th Street- Midnight to 1 p.m.
• 6th Avenue between West 23rd Street and West 42nd Street – 2 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• 7th Avenue from West 34th Street and West 42nd Street - 2 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• 34th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 10 p.m. (Wednesday) to 5 p.m.
• 59th Street E/B between 7th Avenue and Central Park West – Midnight to 2 p.m.
• 59th Street W/B between 5th Avenue and Central Park West – 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 35th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 2 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• 36th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 37th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 38th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 8th Avenue between 34th Street and 40th Street - 4 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Broadway between 38th Street and 59th Street - 4 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• 33rd Street between 7th Avenue and 10th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 39th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 40th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 49th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 50th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Central Park 65th Street/66th Street Transverse Roads - 7 a.m. until conclusion of parade

Watch: Early Start For NYC Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

(Lead image: Balloons and marchers are seen in the 2016 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)