Thanksgiving may inspire thoughts of turkey, autumn leaves and pumpkin pie — but larger-than-life balloons walking down New York City streets remains a popular annual tradition. The University of Connecticut marching band recently learned they’ll be joining the Thanksgiving parade history books next year.
“We have a big surprise, I think, for all of you,” announced Today Show co-host Jenna Bush Hager live on Tuesday. “Start practicing for another huge performance here in New York, because the Pride of Connecticut will be featured in next year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.”
The band, cheer team and Jonathan the Husky mascot celebrated with loud cheers — the announcement was a complete surprise, according to Dr. Malcolm Jones, the director of athletic bands at UConn.
“Some of them were like, ‘Why are we coming down here [to New York]?’,” said Jones. “It was crazy, because we didn’t tell them what was going on…The reactions you saw on TV were their true reactions, so they’re super excited.”
Jones said that the “Pride of Connecticut” was selected by Macy’s out of over 100 applicants. They only select 10 groups to participate in the parade, alongside a limited number of high school and college marching bands.
“I think at some point [the students] were kind of trying to figure out, like, all right, well, we’re down here for something,” Jones said. “I think that was the local aspect too, like, hey, we’d love for you guys to come down to the Today Show and be the group that essentially presents the rest of the lineup for next year,” Jones said.
“We can’t wait for audiences to experience the unique arrangement and creative programming the Huskies will bring to the streets of Manhattan next November,” the parade’s associate producer Sara Flores said in a statement.
Macy’s will contribute a $10,000 grant to the UCMB to help fund next year’s trip, parade officials said.
Next year’s Thanksgiving Day parade also marks the event’s centennial, alongside a UConn marching band landmark.
“It will be the 130th year of the UCMB, which is extra special,” Jones said. “To celebrate these two milestones together, it makes this opportunity even more special to our university.”
Jones, in his first year as UConn’s band director following a stint at Marist University, also said he wants to recognize the hard work graduating seniors have put into the marching band, despite next year’s good news.
“They can still be proud, knowing, like, you guys were part of the performers on the tape and audition that got us to this point,” he said. “We do have a section for graduate students, too, but we have to see what is possible.”
The UConn marching band has participated in some smaller-scale events in the past, such as at UConn athletic appearances in New York and Boston as well as at a New England Patriots game, but the Thanksgiving Day parade will be the group’s largest performance yet. Every year, the parade brings over 3.5 million in-person spectators to New York City streets, according to Macy’s — plus record-breaking television and radio audience numbers.
“To be able to do this, continue on with that success, and riding the high of what the UCMB has been doing, it’s been great,” Jones said. “We’re lucky. The band has been afforded so many great opportunities.”
This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade will kick off at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27, giving the Huskies just about a year to prepare for their big debut.
For more information about the parade, visit macys.com/s/parade.
congrats!