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USAF Band and Macy’s collaborate once again

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Julianna Arnold and Senior Master Sgt. Jake McCray
  • The United States Air Force Band

For the second time in as many years, the United States Air Force Band will collaborate with Macy’s and march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Band previously marched in the parade in 2012.

Macy’s and the Air Force Band have been frequent partners of late, with the Band performing in 2015 and 2016 at the Macy’s Fourth of July spectacular, a live televised broadcast on NBC.

As in 2012, The U.S. Air Force Band plans to send an "inaugural parade size" unit, consisting of approximately 100 performers. This is the second time the Band has been represented in the parade. The Airmen of Note with vocalists from the Singing Sergeants participated in the parade in 1994 and interacted with the crowd while riding on a float.

The Macy's Parade takes more than a year to plan, with bands chosen from all across the country. For more than 80 years, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season for many Americans. More than 3.5 million spectators and a nationwide television audience of more than 50 million annually view the event.

Macy's Department Store first began sponsoring the parade in 1924. The tradition has continued every year except from 1942 to 1944 when the store donated rubber from the balloons to the war effort. Check back at our website for more updates as we get closer to Thanksgiving Day 2017.