NEW BRUNSWICK — Excitement has been bubbling for the first-ever appearance of the Rutgers University marching band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

RU marching band at Today Show (credit_ Dave Haines via Rutgers University)
RU marching band at Today Show (credit_ Dave Haines via Rutgers University)
loading...

A year ago, the Marching Scarlet Knights were selected among 10 bands for the iconic 97th annual parade — for the first time in the band's 108-year history.

Read More: Rutgers' marching band picked for 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

RU marching band at Today Show (credit_ Dave Haines via Rutgers University) 2
RU marching band at Today Show (credit_ Dave Haines via Rutgers University) 2
loading...

On Thursday, the band’s 350 members will take their places along 5th Avenue in Manhattan, to perform for a crowd of millions — both in-person and watching from home on television.

RU stadium (credit_ Dave Haines via Rutgers University)
RU stadium (credit_ Dave Haines via Rutgers University)
loading...

The band has been receiving donations to help offset the larger expenses of taking part in the festivities.

It’s the first NJ band to march in the parade in more than 20 years, according to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Wiki.

2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade (Photo by Eugene Gologursky_Getty Images for Macy's, Inc.)
2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade (Photo by Eugene Gologursky_Getty Images for Macy's, Inc.)
loading...

In 2002, the Piscataway High School Superchiefs Marching Band took part in the excitement.

A year earlier in 2001, the Southern Regional High School Marching Band took the trip from Ocean County to midtown Manhattan.

And kicking off the new millennium, the Bergenfield High School Marching Band made its 20th appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2000.

The Bergen County school was a popular participant starting in 1953, appearing multiple times over the decades that followed.

LOOK: Here Are the 25 Best Thanksgiving movies of all time

Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom

These are the best NJ high schools for sports

Stacker put together a list of the best high schools for sports across New Jersey — using data from Niche that included sports championships, family surveys, student enrollment, athletic participation rate and sports options. Here's the top 25.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK: Best counties to raise a family in New Jersey

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in New Jersey.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK: Which movies were filmed in New Jersey?

Stacker compiled a list of movies filmed in New Jersey using data from Movie Locations, with additional information about each film collected from IMDb.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

More From 105.7 The Hawk