Charlie Brown to lead Macy’s parade

? Good grief, Charlie Brown, you’re leading the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The beloved Peanuts character ” along with 13 other balloon characters ” will be featured in today’s 76th annual holiday march.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid to upper 30s are in store for the estimated 2.5 million parade-goers. Winds will get up to 15 mph to 20 mph.

“It’s going to be nippy,” said parade director Robin Hall. “But you know something? It’s Nov. 28. It’s supposed to be a little chilly at this point.”

Sustained winds of 23 mph or higher or gusts of 34 mph or higher could ground the balloons, though officials hoped the weather would cooperate.

“We’re fully optimistic the wind will behave itself,” said Henry Perahia, chief engineer for the city Department of Transportation.

Vying for the spotlight along with Good Ol’ Charlie Brown are two other new additions: Rich Uncle Moneybags from the board game Monopoly and Nickelodeon’s Little Bill ” the parade’s first black character.

A new balloon of Kermit the Frog will bring the Muppet star back to the parade after a 12-year hiatus.

Kermit is Macy’s official holidays mascot this year and will ride along on Santa’s sleigh ” at the tail end of the parade behind 80,000 participants.

“We actually like the green and red combination,” Hall said.

Cast members from “Hairspray,” “The Producers,” “Oklahoma!” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” are scheduled to perform in front of Macy’s.

Radio City Music Hall’s Rockettes will give the parade some kick, traveling the parade route along with 32 floats and 12 high school and college marching bands.

Marking Washington state’s debut in the parade will be the 187-member Kamiak Show High School Band.

The festivities will be televised live on NBC before an expected audience of 20 million.

Also keeping close watch will be police, who are setting up security checkpoints along the 2-1/2-mile parade route.

Authorities advised paradegoers to use mass transit and prepare for their bags and backpacks to be inspected.