AVON, Ind. — From Avon to New York City, the Avon High School Marching Band is set to represent Indiana on one of the nation's largest stages.
Since being selected to be featured in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the band has been hard at work to fine-tune every step of their performance for Thanksgiving morning.
Students had one of their final rehearsals Thursday, Nov. 21, before traveling to New York City.
One Tuesday, Nov. 26, the band announced it would be 20th of 24 total acts, right after Jimmy Fallon and the Roots.
"It's hard to think about that many people watching you," said Lily Davis, an Avon senior. "We're used to Lucas Oil Stadium and now it's like more people, so that part is scary, but I think we're ready."
With three state and two national marching band titles under their belt just within the past four years, the students are no stranger to hard work.
"We took time out of our competitive season to practice this," said Luke Sharp, an Avon senior. "It's just more on top of what we already do."
With all eyes set on Avon High School, the biggest cheerleaders are ones you won't see on television — the parents behind every student. Some have volunteered countless hours toward uplifting other students and their families.
"It's one of the most rewarding things," said Barkley Davis, an Avon parent. "You want to live through your children, but you also get to see your children participate and be in things like this. It's stuff you'd never dream was possible."
You can watch Avon High School's marching band performance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on 13WTHR and Peacock starting at 8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving morning.