The Mountaineer Marching Band will return to New York City for the 98th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28.
Each year, hundreds of high school and collegiate bands apply to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which received a record-breaking 28.5 million views last year. The Mountaineer Marching Band is one of only 11 bands selected for the 2024 lineup, joining bands from Massachusetts, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, South Dakota, Georgia, South Carolina and New York, as well as the Macy’s Great American Marching Band.
This is the second invitation to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade “The Pride of West Virginia” has received in the past decade; the band also marched in 2016.
“Participating in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a tremendous experience for our students,” said Scott Tobias, associate professor and director of bands. “We all look forward to returning to New York City with ‘The Pride of West Virginia’ to represent the School of Music, the University and the entire state of West Virginia on one of the grandest stages for marching bands.”
The journey kicked off in September 2023 when Macy’s Parade officials surprised the band before the Backyard Brawl football game against the University of Pittsburgh. The announcement was made to the public during the halftime show.
“For more than 100 years, the Mountaineer Marching Band has entertained audiences, from hometown halftime shows to parade routes and venues across the country, representing their state with pageantry and style,” said Wesley Whatley, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade creative producer. “The Macy’s Parade Band Committee is proud to welcome back the talented students at West Virginia University to the Big Apple to march in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”
Whately also presented the band with a $10,000 check during the surprise announcement, and the College of Creative Arts and Media launched a fundraising campaign to cover the travel expenses for the 300-plus members of the Mountaineer Marching Band. Many generous donors have contributed to The Pride Travel Fund over the past year, raising the $500,000 needed to send the entire band to New York City.
Alumni and donors rallied in March for WVU’s annual Day of Giving, contributing more than $25,000 to unlock a matching gift from The Book Exchange, which also donated a percentage of their “The Pride of West Virginia” merchandise sales. Before the 2024 WVU Homecoming Game, The WVU Alumni Band presented the band with a $14,000 check to cover each member's meals during the trip.
As generous donors contributed to the fundraising goal, the “Pride of West Virginia” reunited with new and returning faces anxiously awaiting the season ahead.
“I want the students to have the best possible year they can have,” said Dr. Cheldon Williams, director of athletic bands, at the start of Band Camp in August.
“Every night [of band camp], we sing the Alma Mater and it’s one of my favorite traditions,” said Maddie Alix, a trumpet section leader. “It’s such a bonding moment because it really makes you feel connected to what we’re doing.”
“I am definitely looking forward to participating in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” said Grant Fisher, cymbals section leader. “Being able to represent both the university and the state of West Virginia on a national and international level is a massive honor.”
The Mountaineer Marching Band is inclusive of students from all majors and walks of life. McKayla McNair, a sophomore studying psychology, is one of the drum majors. She was hesitant to join “The Pride of West Virginia” until a chance meeting with Williams. She now gets to lead the beloved marching band on one of the largest stages.
“Everyone loves what they do,” she said. “Everyone’s going to help you move forward and be your best. For those on the outside looking in, it’s just a band. I genuinely believe everyone in the ‘Pride’ thinks of one another as family, as someone they can call on when they need anything. These are people I think I’m going to know the rest of my life.”
Soon, the Mountaineer Marching Band will travel by bus to New York City, where they will start their march through the five-mile Thanksgiving Day Parade route with artists from around the nation and world. The band will be featured near the end of the parade, leading Santa.
The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. ET across all time zones on November 28. NBC is the official broadcaster for 2024 and will be showcasing the parade’s signature field show-style performances in Herald Square. You can also find the parade on CBS and various streaming services, including Peacock, Paramount+ and YouTube.
To see upcoming “Dream Big” episodes featuring WVU Marching Band members, visit https://www.youtube.com/@WestVirginiaU. To learn more about the Mountaineer Marching Band, visit bands.wvu.edu.