WVU’s Marching Band Selected For Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Mountaineer Marching Band, known as “The Pride of West Virginia,” has been selected to appear in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

It is the second time the band will participate in the historic parade which first took place in 1924.

Band Director Cheldon Williams said Macy’s Parade officials surprised the band with the news right before the WVU football game on Saturday.

“I am, for one, so excited to be representing the state and this region of the country once again on such a big national stage,” Williams said. “It brings me a sense of pride to expose the students to more of the world, having them see a larger portion of the world, and having them see the world through music.”

The WVU Mountaineer Marching Band was one of ten marching bands selected for the Macy’s Parade out of hundreds of applications across the country.

“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 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade creative producer, Wesley Whatley. “The Macy’s Parade Band Committee is proud to welcome back the talented students of West Virginia University to the Big Apple to march in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”    

Macy’s presented band members with a $10,000 kickoff fundraising check to begin their preparations for next year’s parade.