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 from Jennifer Hudson and Idina Menzel,

Since its inception in 1924, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a highly anticipated event. Here are 11 lesser-known facts about the celebration, plus interesting history about its balloons.

Every year since 1994, the parade balloons are blown up during the “Macy's Balloon Inflation Celebration,” which is held on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day on the Upper