PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The nation’s oldest Thanksgiving Day parade will kick off the holiday season as it marches through Center City and the Ben Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

How to watch the 2024 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade

This year there are more ways than ever to witness the excitement and fun: come in person and experience the tradition firsthand; watch on 6abc and wherever you stream, starting with a pre-parade special at 8:30 a.m. and kicking off at 9 a.m.; and if you’re not in Philadelphia, you can watch on Hulu, ABCNewsLive, and Disney+.

What better way to start the holidays than with the parade that started them all: the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Last minute preparations

Dozens of performers worked their magic Wednesday night in preparation for the parade.

“I would definitely say I’m excited. Definitely a little nervous,” said Cecilia Houck of On Point Dance Center in Blackwood, NJ.

Artists have worked for weeks during rehearsals for the parade, which is now in its one hundred and fifth year.

There are more than a dozen balloons with 19,000 cubic feet of helium to inflate them, and nearly 20 floats and 3,000 performers, including famous faces from the stage and screens of New York and Hollywood.

Singer Darlene Love will sing her Christmas classic, and The Sugarhill Gang, Matteo Bocelli will also perform, plus Carson Kressley and ABC stars Lisa Ann Walter and Sam Champion will also be in attendance. For a full list of special guests and artists, click here.

“There are so many fans who come to line the parkway because they’ve done it all their lives,” said John Morris, 6abc’s vice president of programming as well as the parade’s executive producer.

The parade remains a favorite with many of our loyal viewers.

“I think this starts the holidays. Everyone comes together and everyone has a holiday tradition. We are part of that tradition,” Morris said.

READ MORE: Matteo Bocelli Previews 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade Performance

Weather forecast

Temperatures will be in the 50s for much of the morning and it will rain. Make sure you wear your raincoat and boots and dress in layers to stay warm. A thermos of hot chocolate or coffee is also a good idea. It dries up in the afternoon. View the latest AccuWeather forecast here.

Parade route

The parade travels through the city of Philadelphia, starting at 20th and JFK Boulevard, and heads LEFT on 16th Street to the Ben Franklin Parkway. The parade turns left on the Parkway to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Road closures

Thursday November 28, 2024

• 12:00 PM – JFK Boulevard, from 30th Street to 16th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the end of the parade.

• 2:00 AM – 20th Street, from Ben Franklin Parkway to Race Street, is closed to vehicular traffic until 11:00 AM

• 2:00 AM – Market Street, from 19th Street to 20th Street, is closed to vehicular traffic until the end of the parade.

• 5:00 AM – 20th Street from JFK Boulevard to Arch Street is closed to vehicular traffic until the end of the parade.

• 6:00 AM – 20th Street, from Market Street to Ben Franklin Parkway, is closed to vehicular traffic until the end of the parade.

• 6:00 AM – Market Street, from 19th Street to 22nd Street, is closed to vehicular traffic until the end of the parade.

• 7am – Kelly Drive, from Sedgley Drive to Eakins Oval, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the end of the parade.

• 7:30 am – Parade route closed to vehicular traffic.

Read more about the list of closures here.

SEE ALSO: Darlene Love talks about performing in 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade