When the Yard Met Herald Square
On Thanksgiving morning 2025, as millions of viewers tuned into NBC and crowds packed the streets of Manhattan, a familiar purple and gold energy cut through the New York chill. The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite marching band — Alcorn State University’s world-renowned musical heartbeat — stepped onto the 2.5-mile Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route and into the national spotlight.
For the first time in its proud history, Alcorn’s band brought its high-stepping SWAC swagger, booming brass, and precision drill work to one of America’s most-watched holiday traditions. Selected from more than 100 applicants and one of just 11 bands featured in the 99th annual parade, SOD didn’t just “appear” — they represented Alcorn, Mississippi, and HBCU band culture on a stage that reaches more than 30 million viewers nationwide.
For Alcorn alumni, current students, parents, and HBCU band fans, the moment felt bigger than one performance. It was the culmination of 18 months of preparation, hundreds of thousands of dollars raised, and generations of band members who built the legacy that marched down Sixth Avenue that morning.
A Historic First for the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite
Alcorn officially announced the news in August 2024: the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite had been selected to perform in the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, representing the state of Mississippi.
The Macy’s Parade Band Committee reviews more than 100 applications each cycle, looking for programs with the “stage presence, musical and marching abilities to captivate millions.” Alcorn’s band was ultimately chosen as one of a small group of featured bands for the 99th edition of the parade.
Macy’s associate producer Sara Flores summed up why SOD made the cut:
The band’s dynamic sounds and performance truly wowed during the selection process.
For Dr. Everson Martin, director of bands, the invitation wasn’t an accident — it was a mission. He’s said he was tasked roughly a year and a half earlier with putting Alcorn on a national stage and worked deliberately to prepare and submit a winning application.
“This is the first time our band program will be represented on a stage such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Dr. Martin explained, calling it a major opportunity not only for the university, but also for “the community and the state of Mississippi.”
For SOD, which has performed at NFL and NBA games and even marched in President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural parade, this Macy’s appearance added a new chapter to an already heavyweight résumé.
Inside the “March to Macy’s” Journey
Getting to New York is not as simple as loading up a couple of buses. For an HBCU program based in rural Lorman, Mississippi, the numbers were daunting: an estimated $500,000 in travel, food, and lodging for students and staff.
Macy’s provided a $10,000 fundraising kick-off gift at the on-campus announcement, symbolically striking up the band’s financial first note.
From there, Alcorn built out a full “March to Macy’s” campaign:
Alumni and supporters rallied under the hashtag #SODMarchtoMacys.
The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Club (SOD Club) and other alumni organizations intensified outreach, particularly in Alcorn’s heartland across Mississippi and the Memphis Metro / Mid-South region.
Travel partners created NYC parade packages for Alcorn alumni, friends, and family, turning the Thanksgiving trip into a once-in-a-lifetime community experience.
For months, band members balanced rehearsals, classes, and games with appearances at fundraising events, community showcases, and church programs. In practice, this is what HBCU culture looks like at its best: students putting in the work, families making sacrifices, and alumni stepping up to close the gap.
By the time the buses rolled out of Lorman, the March to Macy’s wasn’t just about a parade. It had become a collective investment in Alcorn’s story — from Vicksburg to Jackson, Hattiesburg to Memphis, and all along the Mississippi River corridor.
1,248 Miles, 90 Whirlwind Hours, and a Lifetime of Memories
One Alcorn recap captured the experience in a single line: 1,248 miles from Lorman and 90 whirlwind hours in New York City — a lifetime of memories for the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite.
Those hours were packed:
Travel from campus to New York
Hotel check-ins and late-night room assignments
Rehearsals in cold city air, adjusting the signature SOD sound to television timing and New York acoustics
Final run-throughs with the World Renowned Golden Girls, the first HBCU danceline in history and a central part of the band’s identity since 1968.
After the parade, social media posts showed the band celebrating together at New York’s Chart House, a moment of exhale after months of pressure and preparation.
For parents and families watching from Mississippi, Memphis, and across the country, seeing their student march past the cameras in downtown Manhattan turned years of early-morning practices and Friday-night drives into a national moment.
Parade Day: SOD Steps into the Spotlight
The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicked off at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, tracing a route from Central Park West down through Midtown to the famed performance zone in front of Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street.
Along that route — lined with bundled-up fans and towering balloons — the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite marching band brought their unmistakable SWAC energy:
High-stepping drum majors carving crisp lines down Sixth Avenue
Brass and woodwinds pushing a full, rich sound that cut through the canyon of skyscrapers
Percussion driving the street beat that HBCU band fans recognize instantly, even under winter coats and TV audio compression
Golden Girls, Purple Flashers, and auxiliary units adding that signature SOD visual flair
According to coverage from WAPT, a portion of SOD’s performance at Herald Square — the televised “money spot” directly in front of the Macy’s flagship — aired live nationwide, putting Alcorn’s band front and center in living rooms across America.
For a band that the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite founder, The Late Mr. Samuel Griffin, has long cloaked as the “Show Band of the Southland,” this was proof that the Southland extends all the way to New York City.
Why This Moment Matters for HBCU Band Culture
HBCU marching bands have appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade before, but each appearance carries its own cultural weight. The event remains dominated by large high school and predominantly white institutions, as well as long-standing “resident” bands like the NYPD and Macy’s Great American Marching Band.
For Alcorn:
It was the first Macy’s appearance in the history of the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite.
It placed a rural HBCU from southwest Mississippi in the same lineup as celebrated programs from across the U.S. and Panama.
It extended a legacy that already includes national TV, pro sports events, and a U.S. presidential inaugural parade.
Mississippi has a deep marching band tradition — from high school powerhouses like the Pearl Pirate Band, which marched in Macy’s in 1999, to university groups such as the Pride of Mississippi (Southern Miss), which made history with its own parade appearance in 2010.
But this Macy’s performance was a breakthrough for an HBCU band representing Mississippi. For many HBCU alumni and supporters, seeing SOD march past iconic Manhattan landmarks sent a simple, powerful message:
Our stories, our sound, and our students belong on the biggest stages in the world.
Pride from the Yard to the Big Apple: Reactions from Alcorn Nation
The outpouring of pride was immediate and emotional.
Alcorn’s official channels captured the mood:
“The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite brought the energy, the sound, and the Purple and Gold pride to the streets of New York City,” one post celebrated.
Another described the moment simply as the band “marching into history” at the 99th Macy’s Parade.
Local media in Mississippi echoed that sentiment. WAPT highlighted how the band had been preparing since the spring, raising the $500,000 necessary to make the trip possible, and noted that a portion of the band’s performance aired on national TV.
Even the governor of Mississippi publicly wished SOD well ahead of their performance, praising them for representing the “Birthplace of America’s Music” on a national stage.
In online HBCU spaces, band fans and alumni — from SWAC rivals to East Coast supporters — reposted clips with a mix of awe and pride. For some, it was their first time seeing Alcorn’s band in full force; for others, it was a long-awaited moment of recognition for a program they’ve followed for years.
What This Means for Future Braves and Band Students
For current and prospective Alcorn students — especially high school musicians in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and the broader Deep South — SOD’s Macy’s appearance sends a clear message:
You can start on a rural campus in Lorman and still end up on a global stage.
The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite marching band, now nearly 200+/- members strong, has always been a recruiting engine for Alcorn, offering students:
High-level musical training
National performance opportunities
A tight-knit family that stretches far beyond graduation
Add “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade alum” to that list, and the program becomes even more attractive to:
High school band students in the Memphis metro and abroad who want both HBCU culture and big-stage experiences
Parents looking for a supportive, structured campus community for their student musicians
Alumni who want to see their alma mater continuously elevated in national conversations
For HBCU band culture at large, SOD’s performance reinforces something many already know: these programs are not just halftime entertainment. They are cultural institutions, leadership labs, and powerful ambassadors for their universities and states.
How to Keep Supporting the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite
Although the 2025 parade is now in the history books, the work of sustaining a band of this scale never ends. In practice, here’s how alumni, families, and fans can keep the momentum going:
Give Back to the Program
Alcorn launched its March to Macy’s campaign via its website, encouraging supporters to invest in travel, uniforms, and instruments. That same infrastructure can continue to fuel scholarships, instrument replacement, and future national appearances (Hint. Hint.).Stay Connected with the SOD Club and Alumni Chapters
Organizations like the SOD Club and regional alumni chapters — especially in hubs like Memphis, Jackson, Vicksburg, Natchez, and the Mid-South — play a crucial role in rallying support and keeping the band visible in key markets.Support Regional Classics like the Southern Heritage Classic
The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band had a great performance at the 2025 Southern Heritage Classic. Look to see them perform again in 2026 as “Alcorn Takes over the 901” will feature the band, the World Famous Golden Girls, and the university itself to a viewership that reaches millions.Show Up and Share the Story
Whether it’s a SWAC football game in Lorman, a classics game in Jackson, the Southern Heritage Classic, or a streamed performance from NYC, engagement matters. Sharing videos, inviting prospective students, and amplifying band content helps SOD’s reach extend far beyond campus.
For brands and community partners — including media projects like this 901 Alcorn Braves Report — there’s a powerful opportunity to document and elevate these stories so they don’t fade once the last balloon is deflated.
A Parade, a Promise, and a Purple & Gold Future
When the final notes of the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite’s performance echoed off the buildings around Herald Square, the moment was bigger than any one song. It was decades of practice fields, bus rides, auxiliary tryouts, and late-night arrangements finally meeting one of the world’s most iconic stages.
From Lorman to New York City, SOD didn’t just shine — they redefined what’s possible for a small HBCU band rooted along the Mississippi River. For Alcorn’s alumni, students, and supporters, the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will forever be a landmark chapter in a story that’s still being written — one halftime, one road trip, and one historic march at a time.
Written for the 901 Alcorn Braves Report by Larry Hubbard Sr., Alcorn State University Alumnus, Memphis Alumni Chapter Member, and HBCU Culture Contributor.
Larry has spent years chronicling HBCU traditions, Alcorn athletics, and the sound of the SWAC from a Memphis and Mid-South perspective through his photography, highlighting the impact of Alcorn State University on communities from the Delta to the Northeast corridor.
