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The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band to Make its Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® Debut

The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band (LGBAC) will make its debut performance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® on Thursday, November 26, 2020. The 94th edition of Macy’s Parade will feature a mix of the event’s traditional giant character balloons, animated floats, street performances and marching ensembles, musical acts, whimsical clowns and the arrival of the one-and-only Santa Claus. With an expected television audience of more than 50 million viewers, America’s premiere Thanksgiving holiday celebration will air nationwide on NBC and Telemundo from 9 a.m. – Noon, in all time zones. 

Since its inception, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has served as a reflection of the finest of American popular culture. From the best of music to the brightest lights on Broadway and everything in between. The impact of this year’s pandemic related cancelations on some of New York City’s most beloved arts, entertainment and cultural events was a huge loss felt by both New Yorkers and visitors alike who enjoy them annually as part of New York City’s thriving and vibrant communities. To give New Yorkers and the nation a dose of the lost magic, pageantry and whimsy of some of these beloved events, this year’s Macy’s Parade will feature a selection of performances representing a sampling of the annual traditions that had to scale back, cancel or indefinitely postpone their events or performances. Chosen to represent the NYC Pride March (produced by Heritage of Pride), the LGBAC will be the first LGBTQ+ marching band to appear in the Parade. The band is honored to symbolize Pride in the city where the Stonewall Riots sparked the LGBTQ+ rights movement in 1969.

Socially distanced rehearsals in Harrison, NJ, led by LGBAC Marching Director Marita Begley, have been preparing the band for this exciting debut. The band will perform ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” chosen as a celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the first NYC Pride March. The LGBAC boasts a membership of 312 people from young adults to retirees, including a diverse representation of ethnicities and gender identities. To comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines, the Parade performance will feature an 80-piece band consisting of musicians, colorguard, and crew. 

Founded in 1979, the LGBAC performs over 20 times a year in parades, concerts (as the LGBAC Symphonic Band), and other events in NYC and throughout the Northeast. The band is seen and heard by millions of adoring parade-goers and music lovers a year. Along with their bandmates in the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, they have performed in the Inaugural Celebrations for US Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and set records in New York for the largest parade contingent in the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade’s history and the largest LGBTQ+ band in New York City’s history. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a major goal for the band, who started applying in 2016.  

The 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band, will broadcast on NBC and Telemundo from 9 AM to 12 PM, in all time zones. 

ABOUT THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE: 

For more than 90 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season. With more than 50 million viewers nationwide, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event. Featuring Macy’s signature giant character balloons, fantasy floats, marching bands, clowns, celebrity and large group performances, and the one-and-only Santa Claus, the annual spectacle continues to bring families together to create cherished holiday memories. For more information on the Macy’s Parade please visit www.macys.com/parade