NEW YORK — The Mercer Island High School Marching Band is in New York City this week, preparing for their debut in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
On Monday morning, the band performed live in front of hundreds of people on the TODAY Show plaza.
The band is one of six high school marching bands chosen to perform in the 97th edition of the parade.
The Macy's Parade Band Committee selects bands that have stage presence, musical and marching abilities to entertain the millions of viewers who tune in to watch every year. The band was selected from more than 100 applicants in 2022.
A spokesperson for the parade told the band members that they were chosen after a nationwide search for the best marching bands in the country.
RELATED: Mercer Island High School band fundraising to get to New York for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The band has also performed at other major events, including the Tournament of Roses, Seattle Seahawks half-time shows and the London New Year's Parade.
The school’s nearly 300-member band program is the largest in the state, involving nearly 25% of the student body.
The band has been fundraising for their trip for over 18 months.
The parade itself is a U.S. staple, occurring on the morning of Thanksgiving through the streets of Manhattan in New York City, marked by the massive balloons depicting characters from pop culture. This year's parade will feature balloons depicting Bluey, Beagle Scout Snoopy, baby Yoda, the acorn from Ice Age, Kung Fu Panda, Paw Patrol and more.