Press Release
This Thanksgiving, a magical march returns to the streets of New York City and to homes across the U.S. as the 91st Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® kicks-off the holiday season with its signature spectacle of wonder. On Thursday, Nov. 23, the streets of Manhattan will come alive at the sound of “Let’s Have A Parade!” Ready to spread holiday cheer, the annual procession is sure to delight more than 3.5 million spectators and more than 50 million viewers nationwide with its traditional merriment.
“For more than 90 years, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has signaled the start of the holiday season for millions of families. We are thrilled to once again come together as a nation to give this gift of joy and wonder to all,” said Susan Tercero, group vice-president of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She added, “Our incredible team has planned a fantastic spectacle featuring an amazing line-up of giant character balloons, floats of fantasy, the nation’s best marching bands and performance groups, a dazzling array of musical artists, all coming together to herald the arrival of the one-and-only Santa Claus.”
Since the first march in November of 1924, the Macy’s Parade has captivated audiences and become
synonymous with the start of the holiday season. For the 91st edition, the line-up will feature 17 giant character balloons; 28 legacy balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons; 26 floats; 1,100 cheerleaders and dancers; more than 1,000 clowns; 12 marching bands and 6 performance groups.
Marching bands are a central piece of the Thanksgiving delights, bringing national excitement and hometown pride to the streets of the Big Apple, not to mention the musical beat to the holiday revelry. This year, the parade features 12 bands spanning approximately 2585 members in total
2017 PARTICIPATING MARCHING BANDS
COLONY HIGH SCHOOL
Palmer, Alaska
Band Director: Jamin Burton
Band Size: 104
Performance: “Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That”
DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL
Kaysville, Utah
Band Director: Steven Hendricks
Band Size: 309
Performance: “Ode to Joy”
MACY’S GREAT AMERICAN MARCHING BAND
Students from across the country
Band Director: Dr. Rick Good
Band Size: 240
Performance: “Holiday Celebration”
NATION FORD HIGH SCHOOL
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Band Director: Martin Dickey
Band Size: 200
Performance: “We Gather Together”
NYPD MARCHING BAND
New York City Police Dept., New York, NY
Band Director: Lt. Tony Giorgio
Band Size: 50
Performance: “Stand By Me”
OHIO UNIVERSITY
Athens, Ohio
Band Director: Ricky Suk
Band Size: 241
Performance: “25 or 6 to 4”
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY
Prairie View, Texas
Band Director: Timmey Zachery
Band Size: 330
Performance: Highlights from the HBCU Band
ROCKFORD HIGH SCHOOL
Rockford, Michigan
Band Director: Brian Phillips
Band Size: 308
Performance: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
ROSEMOUNT HIGH SCHOOL
Rosemount, Minnesota
Band Director: Ben Harloff
Band Size: 276
Performance: “Pride in the Past, Promise in the Future”
TRUMBULL HIGH SCHOOL
Trumbull, Connecticut
Band Director: Peter Horton
Band Size: 152
Performance: “My Favorite Things”
U.S. AIR FORCE BAND AND HONOR GUARD
Washington, DC
Band Director: Col. Larry H. Lang, USAF
Band Size: 160
Performance: “Air Force Song”
WEST HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL
Gulfport, Mississippi
Band Director: Tim Garrett
Band Size: 215
Performance: “Enterprising Young Men”
