University of South Carolina’s band to march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – It’s a big week for the University of South Carolina’s signature marching band. Not only will they perform at Saturday’s rivalry game against Clemson University, but The Carolina Band will also march the streets of New York City on Thanksgiving Day.

The Carolina Band was one of 11 chosen to participate in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — also featuring 17 giant character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 700 clowns, and plenty of celebrity appearances.

“This is the first Macy’s performance by the Carolina Band in its rich history, and we owe this incredible achievement to all of the Carolina Band alumni, directors and staff members from our 103 years,” said Jay Jacobs, director of the Carolina Marching Band.

To prepare for the big day, the band practiced marching on the streets of Columbia in late October. They started at the intersection of Green and Pickens Streets and traveled to the South Carolina State House where they gave a free concert on the south steps.

All 375 members, directors, and support staff departed for New York on a fleet of buses early Sunday morning and will travel to New Jersey on Tuesday where they will practice and watch the final rehearsal of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band.

People at home can watch the band perform throughout NBC’s Today Show on Wednesday from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. as they broadcast from Rockefeller Plaza. Other events are scheduled for the band throughout the day.

It all leads up to the major celebration on Thursday morning. The forecast calls for a chilly day with temperatures in the upper 40s. They will join other bands from Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

“There are few other pinnacles of marching band excellence than being invited to perform in front of millions in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade,” says Tayloe Harding, dean of USC’s School of Music. “This invitation represents a distinctive recognition of the School of Music, our students, the Carolina Band members and our faculty because it is an acknowledgment of the hard work, dedication and achievement of excellence of everyone involved.”

After the parade, USC band members will visit the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner as a band dinner later in the evening.

The band will return to Columbia on Friday. They’ll perform at the USC vs Clemson football rivalry game on Saturday.

You can catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on News 2 beginning at 8:30 a.m. with an encore airing at 2 p.m.