There’s one thing that’s become a tradition in the homes of millions of Americans during Thanksgiving — watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Preparations were well underway outside the Herald Square department store for the 98th annual parade to make it magic for those on the sidewalk and watching from home.

“Every year, I watch it on TV. It started a tradition with my family. And as I get older, that magic, it’s always the start of the holidays season,” commuter Brian Bohl said.

“It’s kind of a tradition, especially even as a teenager if you were sleeping in, you had to wake up in time to at least see Santa,” Brooklyn resident Brooke Barrs said.

What is usually not seen on television was on full display Tuesday night.

Light and audio technicians were hard at work to make sure the performances go off without a hitch.

“What we have here is most of our float talent are coming in, and they only have a few short minutes to sort of get an idea to where all the cameras are at and for the director to see what the performance will be,” Brendan Kennedy, director of creative production, said.

Kennedy said it takes them a full year to prepare for the parade.

“It all starts with some kind of drawing or idea. It’s like what can this performance be, what can this float, what can this balloon be,” Kennedy said.

The parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m.