Goin’ Band marches to cadence of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

As the sun rose over New York City Thanksgiving morning, the Goin’ Band from Raiderland made history as its members marched along 6th Avenue in the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in front of millions of onlookers.

Appearing between the Uncle Dan and Grogu parade floats, the Goin’ Band, accompanied by the Texas Tech Twirlers, color guard and cheer teams, marched to the cadence of the drumline and performed the Tech Fight Song for parade viewers.

Jennifer Waida and Maxine Ramos, two Tech graduates and former members of the Goin’ Band, said there was no doubt in their minds they would travel to see the band’s performance in the Big Apple.

“When we found out, as alumni, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh … we have to do this. Like this is a once-in-a-lifetime type of thing,’” Waida said. “It’s time the nation finally saw how amazing our organization and band is.”

Waida’s little sister, Michelle, is a current Goin’ Band mellophone player. Waida said it has been a surreal experience watching her sister travel to NYC for this opportunity.

“It’s such an honor and so exciting,” Waida said. “I’m so happy that she’s taking this opportunity, because she really heard a lot of my experience growing up and she wanted to forge her own path… . She is having the best experience.”

Ramos, who played the piccolo, said band is the reason she and Waida have stayed friends since graduation.

“Band was very important for me, so I’m always pro-Goin’ Band. All the way,” Ramos said.

A contingent of Red Raiders filled the parade sidelines between W 48th Street and W 50th Street Thursday morning, mixing with Tech and non-Tech fans alike to create a mass of Double T signs and “Raider Power” chants.

At the end of the parade route, the Goin’ Band performed “Wreck ‘Em Fanfare” in Herald Square for a national audience.

Emilee Sanderson, Tech Student Government’s internal vice president, said she has enjoyed the experience of seeing so many Tech supporters in New York.

“It has been really cool to see all the Red Raiders fill the streets of New York City,” Sanderson said. “Everywhere you go everyone’s giving you a Guns Up or rocking a shirt with a Double T. It’s been really cool to see the Red Raider pride and experience new things as a family.”

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade drew in family, friends, fans and alumni of the Tech community, a presence 2020 Tech graduate Ashylnne Tursi said could be felt throughout the city.

“It is the most exciting thing in the world to me, it makes me so happy,” Tursi said. “Like, going to work and I saw the people in Tech stuff? It just gave me butterflies and it couldn’t make me happier. I'm so happy to have gone to such a great university.”