The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade marks the unofficial start to the Holiday Season.

According to Macy's official site, this year's event will feature performances by 2007 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, San Francisco-based rock band Train, and R&B phenomena Trey Songz.

Parade watchers will also get to experience the retro soul-style of Andra Day, and hear and the viral sensation turned chart-topper Shawn Mendes. The big performance of the day may come from 1980's pop star Pat Benatar, who will sing one of her classic tunes accompanied by guitar legend Neil Giraldo.

CNN reports this year’s parade will also include performances from such mega stars as Mariah Carey and Panic! at the Disco.

There will be a special appearance by Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell, and performances by the cast of Broadway shows such as "Fiddler on the Roof," "On Your Feet!" and "Something Rotten."

Over 1,000 cheerleaders and dancers will be on parade, and there will balloons, of course, representing such cultural icons and kid-friendly mascots as Hello Kitty, SpongeBob SquarePants, Paddington Bear, and the Angry Birds. The floats will include productions by Sesame Street, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Peanuts Gang and Santa Claus.

A dozen marching bands will parade through the streets for the holiday event, including bands from the University of Illinois, the University of Pennsylvania, and the NYPD marching band.

Thursday’s event will be the 89th time the parade will go down Manhattan streets.

The parade will begin at 77th Street and Central Park West, then go east at 59th Street/Columbus Circle along Central Park's southern border before heading south at Sixth Avenue.

The event will require a heavy police presence. According to The New York Times, officers from the elite Emergency Service Unit will be looking around for any suspicious activity. “There will be a lot of police presence,” said NYPD's Chief O’Neill, adding, “All of this will ensure that New York City has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving, as we do every year.”