The WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade presented by Shop Local Raleigh will enter its 68th year this Saturday as the procession winds through downtown Raleigh.

It's the largest Christmas parade between Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and this year's event has over 115 entries. There will be floats, gigantic balloons, marching bands entertainers and more ringing in the holidays with the thousands of expected spectators.

The parade, which starts at 10 a.m., will be broadcast live on WRAL-TV and WRAL.com. WRAL-TV personalities Kelcey Carlson and Bill Leslie are hosting the television broadcast, and Brian Shrader will be reporting street-side. American Idol participant and North Carolina native Emily Minor will be the grand marshal.

The 1.2-mile parade route starts at the corner of Hillsborough and St. Mary's Street and ends on Fayetteville Street.