NEW YORK– A century after the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the annual holiday tradition kicks off Thursday in New York City with new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, performances by Jennifer Hudson and Idina Menzel, and more.

This year’s star-studded lineup is a far cry from the parade’s first incarnation, with floats depicting scenes from Mother Goose, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Miss Muffet and the Spider, and other fairy tales.

However, some things remain the same. Just like in 1924, there will be lots of marching bands and lots of clowns, followed by the grand finale with Santa Claus driving through Manhattan and ushering in the holidays.

This year’s parade features 17 giant helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 new and historic inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.

One new float will showcase food brand Rao’s, featuring a knight and dragon in battle, made with real pasta elements. Another will celebrate the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with images of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra and a gorilla.

“The work we do, the opportunity to impact millions of people and bring a few hours of joy on Thanksgiving morning, is what motivates us every day,” said Will Coss, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends 2.5 miles away around noon at the Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for performances.

It will be rain or shine – the parade has only been canceled three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II – but organizers will monitor wind speeds during the festivities to make sure it is safe for the big balloons to fly.

So far, the forecast calls for rain with temperatures in the low 40s and winds around 10 miles per hour, well within the acceptable range to keep Snoopy, Bluey and their friends flying. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 km per hour) or if gusts exceed 35 mph (56 km per hour).

The parade will air on NBC with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and air on the network’s Peacock service. Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza will host a Spanish simulcast on Telemundo.