Greendale High School Marching Band to perform at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

GREENDALE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Greendale High School Marching Band is set to perform at the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thursday, Nov. 23. It's the band's second appearance in the parade. 

Ahead of the big parade, the band will host a preview event Saturday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. in Stephen J. Gavinski Stadium on the Greendale High School campus. It's the 200-plus-member band's final tune-up before marching in the parade. 

Lizzie Amidzich is a senior at Greendale High School. Her older sister marched in 2016, the last time Greendale was in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

"We all waved, and she gave us like, a heart in the air and it was really fun. I remember I screamed so loud," said Amidzich.

Around 600 community members will be in New York cheering on the 2023 band. 

Saxophonist Sophia Vossekuil says being a part of the parade is a pinch-me moment. Watching it is how her family starts the holiday each year, a tradition handed down by her grandpa. 

"It was his favorite holiday, you know, he'd always help my mom make the ham and just make all the sides and he passed a few years ago, so, we've just been trying to carry on the tradition and make him proud," said Vossekuil. 

The rehearsal the week before the parade is about endurance. They marched 2.5 miles around the track, simulating the 2.5 miles they will do at the parade. 

"We like to use the phrase that nervous energy, that excitement. They know they're gonna perform and then when it's done that relief of we did it, that's the cool moment," said Tom Reifenburg, band director. 

Tom Reifenburg has led the Greendale Marching Band to 18 State Championships, 18 years in a row. He says the group becomes a family. 

Greendale High School is one of just six high school bands chosen to participate in the parade. The students will represent the village of Greendale, Milwaukee County, and the state of Wisconsin.