August 2 UPDATE: Trip registration closed on August 1. Thank you!
July 21 UPDATE: Our full trip including Thanksgiving dinner with the band has sold out. Additional offerings without dinner, but including all other trip attributes have been updated here.
The Official Alumni, Parents, and Fan Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Trip with the Alcorn State University Band! The ONLY trip that brings you on the band's Manhattan Boat Cruise and to Thanksgiving Dinner with the Band (limited seating available (now Sold Out).
If the trip shows "Sold Out", please join the waiting list as we'll be repricing the trip shortly without the Sold Out Thanksgiving Dinner.
And, what an exciting trip this is going to be!
The most popular holiday parade in America, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, has been a Big Apple tradition since 1924. Attracting more than 3.5 million people to the streets of New York City each year and 50 million TV viewers nationwide, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has become so synonymous with Thanksgiving tradition in NYC that it's often shortened to "The Macy's Day Parade."
REGISTRATION ENDS AUGUST 1. 2025!
Your Alcorn State University Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band is going, and so can you to cheer them on as parents, friends, family, and alumni!
Share in the traditions of this world-class event with the band through their tour partner, Performing Arts Consultants. PAC has taken top-notch bands to this amazing parade for over thirty years and now, we're getting ready to take the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite!
Four-day, three-night Packages to NYC and the Parade, staying in the heart of the city, Times Square, and the Theater District at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel from Tuesday, November 25 through Friday, November 28, 2025, are available to cheer on the Band. THIS IS THE OFFICIAL ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BANDS FAN TRIP and the only one with access to join the band for Thanksgiving Dinner in NYC!
Additional nights are also available to extend your stay in the city!
WE WILL BE ADDING BROADWAY SHOWS AND NYC ATTRACTIONS for your additional consideration during the Summer of 2025! Expected in mid/late July!
All pricing shown is "per person," so if you're reserving for two people, select two travelers and list each of your names. List three names for a triple room, four for a quad, etc. Five or more travelers will require two rooms (email for assistance with that). Yes, you can arrange roommates who pay separately (see below).
Additional room nights before and after our trip dates are also available if you'd like to see more of New York City during your stay. Please see "add-ons" for these nights at time of booking! If you need more nights than we're offering, let us know, as we'll have them!
Questions? Email at Lee@usafest.org. Please give me a day or two to respond but, I most certainly will!
Join the band in New York City for the most fabulous of parades, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025!
Right in the "Heart" of the action!
With a stay at The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, you'll be centrally located in New York City.
Steps from Broadway theaters and Times Square, this 4-star hotel is close to Rockefeller Center and Broadway and most major tourist attractions.
Make yourself at home in one of the 1,780 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and flat-screen televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Cable programming and video-game consoles are provided for your entertainment, while wireless Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.
Additional nights before and after these dates may also booked here (see add-on section after you select your package). If you need additional dates or date combinations, please email Lee Lafleur at lee@usafest.org.
Join the band on Wednesday afternoon at Radio City Music Hall (1 p.m.) for the "Christmas Spectacular" featuring the world famous Rockettes and of course, Santa Claus. Your ticket to this not-to-miss Holiday Tradition is included!
Your Alcorn State University Golden Girls are likely to perform on the Radio City Music Hall stage just prior to the show!
You never forget the memories you make at the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes. From the moment you walk into Radio City Music Hall to the very last dazzling dance number, experience the magic that only Rockettes can create. Bring your family for a one-of-a-kind tradition, where wooden soldiers dance, ice skaters glide, snowflakes swirl—and the unmistakable spirit of Christmas in New York City comes alive. Enjoy this Wednesday performance, with the band.
Radio City Music Hall is located just a couple of blocks from your hotel!
Join the band this "opening night" in the Spirit of NJ Dinner Cruise boarding at 6pm from Chelsea Pier in Manhattan (transportation from the hotel included).
The Spirit of New Jersey dining cruises offer a fun & festive experience with a chef-prepared buffet, entertainment, and incredible skyline views from our climate controlled interior and open-air exterior decks. Join the band here on Tuesday night!
The band and their guests (you!) will be treated to a full buffet dinner and DJ alongside the amazing views of the NYC skyline, the statue of liberty, and the Brooklyn bridge. Plan your flight to arrive early Tuesday (by 2 pm) to take advantage of this spectacular dinner cruise or, why not come in on Monday and book another night in NYC?
The Chart House Restaurant located on the Hudson River directly across from Manhattan is yours for Thanksgiving dinner with the band, transportation included, and offers breathtaking views of the spectacular New York City Skyline. FIFTY PLACES HAVE BEEN RESERVED for ALUMNI, FRIENDS, and FAMILY. After these 50 places are gone, dinner with the band will be removed from our packages.
Happy Thanksgiving!
This upscale cosmopolitan, full-service restaurant is one of the most sought-after locations in New Jersey and your Alcorn State Marching Band has it reserved for up to 300 performers, friends, and family on Thanksgiving night!
The Chart House Restaurant was designed to focus on the magnificent Manhattan Skyline view while tantalizing your senses with their award winning cuisine.
This night, your Thanksgiving Dinner will feature Classic Caesar with Garlic Croutons, Mixed Field Greens with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans & Mustard Seed Dressing, Baby Spinach, Toasted Walnuts, bleu cheese & Raspberry Vinaigrette, Mediterranean table with assorted Antipasti Meats, Cheese and Vegetables, Herb Roasted Tom Turkey with Chardonnay
Thyme Au Jus, Baked Country Ham with Cinnamon Cider Glaze, Rigatoni with Rock Shrimp, Red Bell Peppers & Basil Cream Sauce, Penne with a Cabernet and Wild Mushroom Ragout, Grilled Chicken Paillard with savory pear chutney, Glazed Roast Pork with apple and onion marmalade, Pecan Crusted Tilapia with Cranberry Beurre Blanc, Garlic Mash Potatoes, Cornbread Stuffing, Wild Rice Pilaf with Broccoli and Cheese, Candied Yams, Green Bean Casserole, Carrots w/ Sage Butter, Fresh Fruit Display, Pecan, Apple & Pumpkin Pie, Italian & French Pastries, Petite Fours and
Assorted Gourmet Cakes!!!!
Dinner and transportation from your hotel is included in your package (a 30-40 minute bus ride for spectacular views at Thanksgiving dinner!).
Due to limited seating, dinner tickets are only available to those traveling with the band, or participating in this Friends, Family, and Alumni offering. Dinner will likely sell-out and we'll adjust package pricing for you once it does.
As we get closer to the BIG PARADE, PAC will add several optional Broadway shows and NYC Tours for you to choose from for your time in New York City! At our discounted group pricing, these are cheaper than you can typically find on your own. You'll be able to reserve them, righ here, from PAC's WeTrravel website!
Air transportation is not included as we know some of you will use popints and miles, or even drive to the City.
When you see a great flight price to La Guardia, Kennedy, or Newark, grab it! If you need assistance securing airfare, seek out the airline directly to book the “best deal.” We recommend sites like kayak.com or expedia.com, etc., to find the best fare! Airfare is not included in our packages.
**NOTE that MOST AIRFARES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE UNTIL 330 days out (February 2025).
As you’ll be booking your own airfare, you'll also want to look at arranging your airport transportation as well. There are a variety of options from shuttle buses, to Uber/Taxi, to city bus/subway combinations available to get you to Manhattan and the Sheraton. It's not difficult at all to get to the heart of Manhattan, and not too expensive either by Air Train, subway, or bus.
For example, the Uber fare from LaGuardia to the Sheraton is approximately $46 ($23 each if two of you, $15 each if three, etc.). Air Train, subway, bus combinations are as little as $12 pp and easy to maneuver. Use these numbers in budgeting your expense and Google your route for New York area airport transportation specifics.
PAC will publish our recommendations for transit and directions from all airports closer to the event.
At the Sheraton, we’re staying just off the parade route in the heart of Manhattan and suggest you, your friends and family get an early start to find the best viewing for the parade. We'll send you parade viewing guides as we get closer to the parade date!
Bleacher seats to this parade are not available to the general public and are closely managed by Macy's (and not for sale).
This guide is a season old, but is one of the best we've seen with tips for watching the parade. This information is still valid! https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/tips-for-viewing-the-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/
We’ve seen a few commercial vendors selling everything from simple reserved parade viewing to gourmet all you can eat and drink packages at $800 or more. Most/all grandstand seats are NOT FOR SALE and most parade viewing, unless you're well-connected, is from the street. There will be plenty of opportunities to line up, and see the parade!
If you are paying for your family member or roommate under your account, there is no need to do anything special at registration.
If your roommate is paying separately under their own account, be sure to add their name and email address when asked at checkout (important) so that we can match you up with them on the hotel rooming list.
As example, if you have two roommates staying with you in a triple room, you will pay for one traveler in a triple room (not three), and list both of your roommate names and email addresses at registration. If by chance they decide not to come however, you will be charged for a double or single room as appropriate.
Your trip of a lifetime to New York City and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade includes (Three-Night Package):
* Three nights’ accommodation at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel in the heart of Manhattan (additional nights available).
* Dinner Cruise with the Band on the Spirit of New Jersey dining yacht!
* A ticket to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show with the Band (Wednesday at 1 p.m.).
* Thanksgiving dinner with the band at the Chart House restaurant including RT transportation from the hotel (Limited seating and may sell-out).
* RT Motorcoach transportation from the hotel to both the dinner cruise and Chart House events.
Your trip does not include (book/reserve on your own):
* Airfare (available about 11 months out)
* Airport Transportation
* Meals, unless noted above
* Optional Broadway shows, tours, and excursions (available Spring 2025 at PAC's group rates)
* Optional travel insurance
* Reserved parade seating
CANCELLATION POLICY
A $100 per person cancellation fee is applied to all reservations cancelled after August 1, 2025. Your reservation is fully refundable until then for any reason.
In consideration of non-refundable payments made by Performing Arts Consultants to tour operators, land operators, airlines and other agents associated with travel and/or festival arrangements, accommodations and/or services, the following will apply:
Cancellation for any reason PAC will refund all monies paid minus $100 per person through June 1, 2025.
Trip Insurance MAY assist you with coverage for cancellation.
PAYMENT POLICY
Upon receipt of your invoice, please mark the payment dates on your calendar to maintain a punctual payment schedule. WeTravel will send notices as a reminder. Payments are timed for when PAC needs to pay vendors for your fabulous trip!
Late payments for any reason are subject to a $25 late payment fee.
Checks may be entered online at no additional cost, in addition, most credit cards are accepted (credit card processing fees apply)at WeTravel.com.
Click Here For Our Full Terms and Conditions
As the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a truly special event, the above stated cancellation fees supersede those in the link above for this event.
Whereas PAC is not an insurance company, you may purchase trip insurance for the value of your trip at third-party site if you would like. We often use Travel Insured, who can quote your insurance price and coverage online based on the value of your trip. Travel Insurance, if desired, can be secured directly through them, or your preferred vendor.
Coverage and regulations have changed quite a bit in the Covid era, so please, read your coverage documents carefully! PAC does not see trip insurance directly for adult groups, such as this one.
