
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off the holidays with unparalleled pomp and pageantry. In 2009 the parade began a new tradition by heading down its new route on
7th Avenue for the first time.
The scale of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is immense: more than
3.5 million people view the parade live along the parade route, and more
than 50 million viewers tune in to the television broadcast. Spectators
watch in awe as 10,000 participants including the nation's best marching
bands, performance groups, giant helium balloons, breathtaking floats
and the one-and-only Santa Claus pass before their eyes.
Each year, top marching bands of all varieties from across the country
are invited to represent their states in the annual parade. In addition,
the Macy's Great American Marching Band returns to the parade route this
November with more than 250 participants representing all 50 states.
Band directors are invited to submit an application along with a DVD of
a field marching performance to the Macy's Band Selection Committee.
Applicants are thoroughly reviewed and decisions are made by early May,
approximately 18 months in advance of the invited bands' appearance.
Bands participating in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade often take advantage of additional performance and educational opportunities
during their visit to New York City. Some of the activities that bands have included on their itineraries are:
- Attending a Broadway show at one of the many theatres along the Great White Way
- Taking a harbor cruise for a unique view of the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline
- Seeing a performance at New York's legendary music venues, including Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall or Lincoln Center
Web: Macys.com
Email: Contact Us
Mail: Macy's Band Selection Committee, 11 Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001
Parade Line: 212-494-5432
If you're interested in entering your band in the Macy's Thanksiving Day Parade, click here to download the official
band application form (pdf format).
The deadline to apply for the 2011 parade is March 1, 2010.