For First Time Ever, Rutgers Will March In Thanksgiving Day Parade

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — For the first time ever, the Rutgers marching band will perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade this Thursday.

Macy's presented a $10,000 check to the Marching Scarlet Knights last fall when they were invited to march in the parade.

"It's hard to put into words how much this means to the students," said band director Todd Nichols, who doubled the size of the band since taking the helm.

The Rutgers marching band is known as a "no-audition" band; they take everyone and no student is ever turned away. So it's all the more special to show the world what they can do this Thursday, said assistant band director Julia Baumanis.

"We will take you where you are, and we will bring you to where you need to be to be a part of this ensemble," she said. "There's a place musically for everyone here ... The sky's the limit."

The 360 band members have been practicing for weeks. On Thursday morning, they will wake up hours before dawn to make the ride from New Brunswick to Manhattan and take their place on the famous parade route. Look for the Rutgers marching band to be placed somewhere between Snoopy and Santa Claus.

The parade attracts an in-person crowd of 3.5 million, with another 27 million people watching from the comfort of their couches on Thanksgiving Day.

“I call it a bucket list event. It really is once in a lifetime,” said band director Nichols. “This is the first time ever: first for the school, first for the band, first for me. It's really hard to put into words how much this means to me and our band family. The students are beyond pumped to show the country the amazing things they do.”

What to expect from the Marching Scarlet Knights on Thursday:

This story was written and submitted by Lisa Intrabartola/Rutgers University media communications