Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013: Performers, Parade Route and Time

On Thanksgiving morning, millions of families across the country will gather around the television to watch the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. 

Performers, parade workers and massive crowds battle the cold temperatures to partake in the parade, which has been a yearly tradition since 1924. More than 3.5 million spectators and more than 50 million television viewers watch the cavalcade of floats, dancers, performers, marching bands and the famous Macy's Day Parade giant balloons.

This year, Macy's 87th annual parade will feature a host of performances, as well as brand new balloons and floats. 

"I'm pretty sure the magicians at Macy's Parade Studio have once again made it onto Santa's nice list," said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

"As America's best high school and college marching bands, hundreds of dancers, cheerleaders, clowns and balloon handlers make their way down the streets of New York for our 87th march, they will be joined by four brand new giant character balloons, five new intricately designed floats and one spinning dreidel," she continued.

Kule added, "These new entries join the already stellar grouping of balloons, floats, performers and adorable kids that will once again make Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade the perfect way for everyone to begin their Thanksgiving holiday." 

NBC "Today" hosts Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie will host the parade.

The parade will feature performances from Kristin Chenoweth, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots with the cast of "Sesame Street," Florida Georgia Line, Megan Hilty, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Fifth Harmony, and many more, according to NBC.com. 

There will also be theatrical performances from Cirque du Soleil, the Radio City Rockettes, and a series of performances from Broadway musicals, including "Matilda" and "Motown: The Musical." Carrie Underwood and the cast of NBC's "The Sound of Music Live" will also make in an appearance during the first hour of the broadcast. 

The parade route will kick off at 77th St. and Central Park West at 9 a.m., and will continue to Columbus Park Circle, where it will turn onto Central Park South, according to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade website. It will move south onto 6th Ave, go down 42nd St. and make its final stop on 34th St. in front of Macy's Herald Square. 

The parade will air live from 9 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28.