Mason High School's 232-member marching band will march in the 101st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Nov. 25, 2027.
The band was chosen from more than 100 applicants nationwide, according to the school newspaper, The Chronicle. It is the first time the program has been selected for the parade, Fox 19 reported.
Students and families learned the news Oct. 16 in the school auditorium during what band members believed was a routine rehearsal announcement. Director of Bands Avious Jackson walked in wearing a turkey costume. New York-themed music played. Then Marching Band Director Jason Sleppy pulled a sheet from a plaque reading "Thanksgiving Day Parade 2027," revealing the selection to students and families, according to The Chronicle.
Macy's presented a $10,000 donation to the band program as part of the reveal, according to The Chronicle and WLWT.
"So few bands from around the country are accepted. We get to represent Ohio in the parade, and I'm super excited about that," Sleppy told Fox 19.
Sleppy said the Macy's parade is the next dream stage after the Rose Parade in California, which the band previously attended. He said the opportunity to perform on a national stage recognizes the students' hard work.
Students said the announcement caught them off guard. Junior Sab Rajan told Fox 19 the band's last major trip had been out west, so heading east was a surprise. Junior Landon Whited told Fox 19 the timing makes it even sweeter because the parade will fall during senior year.
The band has already earned first-place finishes at the Lakota West Invitational and The Ohio State Buckeye Invitational this year, according to WLWT. The group is set to compete at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in November in Indianapolis.
This year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade marks the 100th march, according to WLWT. The 2027 edition will open a new century of the tradition.
The parade runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Nov. 25, 2027.
