High school band in metro Atlanta invited to participate in 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade

A Clayton County High School band got a huge surprise Friday morning, they’ll be marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach was at Jonesboro High as parade officials broke the news.

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The students thought they were coming to the gym for a send-off for the principal instead they were in for a shock.

Out of more than 100 applicants from all over the country, only ten bands were chosen to march in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

The Majestic Marching Cardinals is the first band in the school’s and Clayton County’s history to be invited to participate in the parade.

The band wasn’t that majestic when Lynel Goodwin took over about eight years ago, but from just 15-to-20 students to now more than 120 and growing. They first marched in Chicago, then on Independence Day in Washington DC and this year they traveled to Mobile, AL for Mardi Gras.

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But nothing compares to Manhattan on the morning of Thanksgiving with 2.5 million spectators along the parade route and tens of millions at home.

Macy’s started off fundraising with a $10,000 donation to the band. Jonesboro’s Mayor was there as well and said the community, elected officials, and business leaders will come together over the next year and a half to make sure no one misses the parade because of money, and everyone gets to go.

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