University of North Alabama Marching Pride makes historic debut at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Muscle Shoals tribute, and their performance was absolutely incredible

The University of North Alabama Marching Pride took the stage today at the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, performing a tribut to their historic area. Selected from hundreds of applications, the band delivered a 75-second medley celebrating Muscle Shoals music to millions watching nationwide.

Making History for the University of North Alabama

For the first time in the university’s history, the Marching Pride represented Alabama and their home state on one of television’s biggest stages. Band Director Lloyd Jones emphasized the historic significance of the moment for his ensemble.

“We are thrilled that we get to go represent our university, our community, and our state, and this is a real high point of our career here,” Jones stated. The band arrived in New York City ready to showcase their preparation and musical excellence before a national audience.

A Musical Celebration of the Shoals Region

Rather than choosing generic material, UNA deliberately selected music reflecting their region’s unique heritage. The 75-second performance featured a carefully curated medley of classic hits from the legendary Muscle Shoals recording community.

Director Jones explained the song selection: “We have chosen the medley of Muscle Shoals music for our 75 second performance, we feel like that makes us unique among all bands that we have such a thriving recording community here in our area so we have a little Mustang Sally, Wilson Pickett, a little bit of the Rolling Stones brown sugar and Bob Seger’s old time rock and roll.”

Behind the Scenes: A Year of Preparation

The band received their invitation last year and immediately began intensive preparation. Director Jones noted the extensive work required: “We have been preparing music for quite some time now, getting just the right arrangements, just the right length of songs.”

The Full Macy’s Parade Experience

The Marching Pride performed as one of 11 marching bands selected for the 2025 parade lineup. The experience extends far beyond the performance itself, with students getting opportunities to explore New York City and experience the cultural capital.

Director Jones highlighted the experiential value for students: “This is quite a trip for our student body, and they’re looking forward to going to a Broadway show, going to see the Rockettes, going to the Oculus, One World Trade, one of the 9/11 museums, so it’s an experiential trip for our students.”

What’s Next for the Band’s Historic Achievement?

With months of preparation coming to fruition today, the Marching Pride proved ready to deliver. Director Jones expressed confidence in his ensemble: “They’re ready, they’ve improved every day, they’re very excited to show New York and the world what a magical product they have and represent this state and the University of North Alabama.”

Sources

• WKRG News – UNA Marching Pride arrives in NYC for Thanksgiving Day Parade coverage
• alabamabands.una.edu – Official University of North Alabama Bands announcement
• Macy’s Official – 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup confirmation

Michael Brown

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