Marching ‘The Pride’ into NYC
The “Pride of West Virginia,” the Mountaineer Marching Band, shown here in the parking lot where the group rehearses, has been hard at work practicing for its trip to New York City where it will be part of the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (WVU Photo/David Ryan)
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Euphoric. Surreal. Amazing.
Those are a few of the words members of the West Virginia University “Pride of West Virginia,” the Mountaineer Marching Band, use to describe the feelings they’re associating with their appearance in the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which steps off at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, in New York City.
“The Pride” — making its second parade appearance since 2016 — is one of 11 marching bands joining 22 balloons, 34 floats, 28 performers, 11 performance groups, 28 clown crews and more in this year’s parade, which will follow a route that includes 2.5 miles of public viewing between Central Park West and Macy’s Herald Square.
Wesley Whatley, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade creative producer, surprised members of the Mountaineer Marching Band with an invitation to march in the 2024 parade on Sept. 16, 2023, at the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility. Cheldon Williams (right), WVU associate director of bands and director of athletic bands, accepted $10,000 to kick off fundraising for the trip through the Pride Travel Fund. (WVU Photo/Matt Sunday)
“Learning that we were going to Macy’s was unreal,” said Maddie Alix, a junior forensic science major and trumpet player from Fairmont. “I still really don’t believe it.”
From an early interest in music, Maddie has found her community within the Mountaineer Marching Band and thrived in a band leadership role while representing her community and the entire Mountain State.
“There’s a reason we’re called ‘The Pride of West Virginia,’” she said. “People love us.”
Hear more from Maddie in The Pride’s Journey to Macy’s, Episode 1.
“The Pride” had Milan Puskar Stadium all to itself for a recent practice session in advance of the band’s participation in the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (WVU Photo/David Ryan)
Mikayla McNair, a sophomore psychology and biology major from Chesapeake, Virginia, was initially unsure about a leadership role in the Mountaineer Marching Band, but she took the leap and is thriving in the role of drum major as the band prepares for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“The last time I was in New York, I was five. I remember meeting Spiderman and that was about it. Going to be a part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is something completely out of this world and something I never thought I’d be able to do,” McNair said.
“I know it’s a big deal. It’s a big deal for ‘The Pride,’ it’s a big deal for my family, and it’s a big deal for the University as a whole.”
Hear more from Mikayla in The Pride’s Journey to Macy’s, Episode 2.
“The Pride’s” four drum majors lead the marching band during a recent performance at Elkins High School. (WVU Photo/Aira Burkart)
From an early age, Jakob Fedele from Princeton knew how important “The Pride” was to the Mountain State.
Now a mechanical and aerospace engineering major and a saxophone player in his senior year, Jakob is performing in communities all over the state, preparing for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and inspiring future Mountaineers.
“I never thought I’d be at Macy’s in the Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Fedele said. “I saw it a lot. We’d always watch it. ‘The Pride’ went in 2016 and I was like, ‘That’s cool.’ I was like, ‘I get to be a part of a band that said they have been to Macy’s.’ And then when they announced it last year, I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ And we were just jumping for joy. I mean, it’s kind of indescribable.”
Hear more from Jakob in The Pride’s Journey to Macy’s, Episode 3.
The fun and entertainment starts at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day as “The Pride” steps onto the streets of New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (WVU Photo/Aira Burkart)
Will Burton, a senior biology major and tuba player from Morgantown, also recalls watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a child.
“I can’t imagine how much joy I’ll feel whenever the band stops at Herald Square and we’re able to play for the whole world to see. It’ll feel amazing,” Burton said.
“It’ll mean so much to represent the state of West Virginia in front of a national audience. And it’s not just West Virginia I’m representing, but all my friends and all the people who got me to here and to be me right now. I am eternally grateful to them, and to be a part of this with my best friends in band, to go and stop there and play is going to be amazing for me.”
Hear more from Will in The Pride’s Journey to Macy’s, Episode 4.
The Pride of West Virginia will don its trademark gold, blue and white band regalia and take to the streets of New York City Thursday (Nov. 28) as part of the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (WVU Photo/David Ryan)
NBC will broadcast the parade and it will also be streamed on Peacock.
“The Pride” was selected from hundreds of band applications submitted from across the United States, an announcement that was made in fall 2023.
To support “The Pride’s” trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, fundraising efforts continue through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
Find more information and donate to the Pride Travel Fund.
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