"A dream come true:" Greendale High School Marching Band to perform in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

GREENDALE/NEW YORK (WITI) -- The Greendale High School Marching Band has been selected to perform in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade -- representing the state of Wisconsin.

This will mark the first parade appearance by the band. Greendale will join the parade to the tune of Let’s Have a Parade, the iconic phrase that has signaled the start of every Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1924.

Each year, the Macy’s Parade Band Committee looks for bands that have the stage presence, musical and marching abilities to captivate more than 3.5 million live spectators and more than 50 million viewers. The Greendale High School Marching Band was selected from 175 applicants, as one of 10 bands to march in the 2016 edition of the annual holiday spectacle. The band will join the revelry along with other iconic Macy’s staples: floats, giant character balloons, clowns and superstar performers galore on Thanksgiving Day 2016, helping to create an unforgettable experience for millions.

"On behalf of the Band Selection Committee, Macy's is thrilled to welcome the Greendale High School Marching Band to the 2016 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for their inaugural performance! The band's creative and theatrical style is sure to set them apart as they march and perform for millions of spectators across the nation," said Wesley Whatley, creative director, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Tom Reifenberg, director of bands at Greendale High School said, "Being selected for the 90th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is truly a dream come true. The Greendale High School Marching Band is honored to represent the high school, the school district, the Village of Greendale, and the State of Wisconsin in front of millions of spectators, both along the parade route in New York City and those watching at home."

The Greendale High School Marching Band will spend the next 18 months planning for their parade appearance. Rehearsals and creative fundraising events not only bring the school and the community closer, but prepare the students for the march of a lifetime.

For more than eight decades, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has given thanks to what Macy’s values most – its loyal fans. More than 5,000 Macy’s employees and dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to create a spectacular event that entertains the cheerful crowds and provides joy to millions at home watching on Thanksgiving Day.

Marching down a more than two-mile long route in New York City, the spectacle is alive with gleaming color, music and smiles.