NEW YORK — A handful of new Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons — including Baby Yoda and Netflix’s Ada Twist, Scientist — were unveiled for a test flight in Queens on Saturday. 

Approximately 200 volunteers flocked to Citi Field to walk the new characters around a test track. Tina Crocket, who lives in Harlem, has been volunteering with the parade for 11 years. 

“They’re about to be unnetted and launched,” said Crocket as she walked toward her balloon position.  

The outdoor run helps handlers get used to maneuvering the characters around curves and through elements like wind before the big day.

“Every year, it's so exciting, because I started as a balloon handler, moved up to a captain, and now this year, I’ll be one of first African American pilots of a balloon,” Crocket said.  

“They know on Thanksgiving Day, mom is not going to be there until maybe 12 or 1 o'clock, and I have a granddaughter this year and I really want her to be in the stands and watch grandma go down that route, piloting that balloon, so it's really going to be special this year," she said.

Last year's parade did not include spectators, but this year, organizers are saying they will be back.

“We’re really excited coming off of last year where we were able to maintain a version of the parade," said the parade's executive director, Will Coss. "This will be our first year back on the streets of New York City with a live audience." 

And whether spectators watch in person or at home, Coss promises a full experience.

“We’ve got 28 floats, a whole host of musical talent throughout all spectrums and genres of music, we’ve got 30-plus herded balloons of varying sizes and shapes, so the parade has really expanded over the years, and we’re excited,” Coss said.  

Crocket agreed. “Everyone is excited because it’s such a tradition, and we all want to go back to our traditions,” she said.