Updated 11/19/2009 6:08:10 PM
COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- For the first time in its history, the 193 member Harrison High School Marching band from Kennesaw will march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. One of just 11 High School marching bands chosen nationally each year, Harrison is scheduled to appear between the Santa balloon and the Hello Kitty Balloon. Macy's estimates that the parade will be seen by 50 million viewers nationwide, 3.5 million of them lining the streets of New York City to watch the spectacular live.
Thursday morning, viewers across Atlanta got a sneak peek at the band's routine as 11Alive News broadcasts live during one of their final practices before the trip to New York. 11Alive Education Reporter Donna Lowry was at the school to bring viewers this exciting preview from 5:45 to 7 am on Thursday morning.
According to Harrison High School's Web site, the band has enjoyed a national reputation as a model program for over 10 years, and is recognized as a Sudler Flag of Honor band program, one of only 63 programs world wide to receive this honor, which is like a Lifetime Achievement award for band programs.
Also for the first time in it's 83 year history, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will bypass Braodway and travel instead down 7th and 6th Avenues to Herald Square. Robin Hall, executive producer of Macy's National Events explains on the Macy's website: "Dramatic changes in the mid-town landscape will divert us for the first time from the fabled Broadway route we have followed since our first Parade in 1924. However, our course will remain true and the Parade will continue to entertain millions as Spider-Man returns to the sky and the first new Santa Float in almost half a century makes its debut."
Stars joining the line-up include Bello, Grandma and the cast of the Big Apple Circus, Andrea Bocelli, Boys Like Girls, Alan Cumming, Billy Currington, DJ Lance Rock and the cast of Yo Gabba Gabba!, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, Gloria Gaynor, Sarah Hughes, Kermit the Frog and Tiffany Thornton, Jane Krakowski, Cyndi Lauper, Ziggy Marley with Judah Marley, Katharine McPhee, Miss America 2009 - Katie Stam, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, Mitchel Musso, Keke Palmer, The Pizzarelli Quartet, Jay Sean and Carly Simon. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be broadcast Live on 11Alive on Thanksgiving Day beginning at 9 am EST. Following the parade will be the increasingly popular National Dog Show presented by Purina.
