BARRY L. HOUSER, DIRECTOR NEW YORK CITY MACY S THANKSGIVING PARADE NOVEMBER 23-28, 2015 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 10:00 AM Report to Harding Band Building and store luggage by Coach Group 1-7 10:30 AM Rehearsal in the Irwin Indoor Facility 12:30 PM Marching Illini report to the historic Harding Band Building r Check In begins in the historic Harding Band Building 141 r Pick Up Trip Handbooks, Merchandise, and Per Diem 1:00 PM 7 Peoria Motor Coaches with DVD, Wi-Fi, & Power Strips arrive for loading at: Harding Band Building 1103 South Sixth Street Champaign, IL 61820 2:00 PM Depart for New York City!! 835 miles, 15 hours have been allotted for drive time plus 3 hours for meals stops on your own, 1 hour for time change, and driver changes. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 9:00 AM Arrive at the 9/11 Memorial And Museum Meet Your Professional Tour Directors Here Who Will Stay With The Group Throughout Your Stay In New York City 12:00 PM Use per diem money for lunch
1:30 PM Meet at a designated location to transfer to the Zephry Statue Express 2:00 PM Cruise Begins! Climb aboard this one of a kind yacht for a one hour cruise and the opportunity to view New York City from the comfort of multiple climate-controlled decks. Surrounded by spectacular sights outside and elegant amenities inside, you will glide past many of New York s most legendary landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. 3:00 PM At conclusion of cruise, board motor coaches and transfer to our Manhattan Hotel: Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers 811 Seventh Avenue at 53 rd Street Manhattan, New York 212-581-1000 Unload luggage from motor coaches, check into our rooms, and relax 5:00 PM Use per diem money for dinner 6:00 PM Macy s Parade Pep Rally at Macy s Herald Square The official Macy s welcome to NYC for all participating marching bands, dancers, and cheerleaders inside the store from approximately 6-9pm welcoming everyone to mix and mingle, do some parade merchandise shopping, DJ dance mixes and get some great step-and-repeat We Made It photos for social media. Rehearsals for shows, celebs, and groups for their NBC performance will be taking place as well. 9:00 PM Macy s Pep Rally concludes and evening activities on your own 12:00 AM Curfew: Return to the hotel for the evening. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Morning Breakfast on your own 9:00 AM Walk to Rockefeller Center! Located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, it is known for its big Christmas tree and ice skating in winter, Today Show concerts, Radio City Music Hall and Saturday Night Live. There is a vast array of options for shopping and dining, whether you're looking to purchase high-end goods or just grab a quick bite to eat. Rockefeller Center is the site where The Today Show is broadcast. (Maybe a chance of getting on camera?)
10:00 AM Meet at the Top Of The Rock!! Experience the six-level observatory atop the Art Deco skyscraper, 30 Rockefeller Plaza which offers fantastic 360 degree views of the New York City skyline! Take some time in the Fifth Avenue area to explore the sights and shops in the area. From stores like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany s, Gucci, and Versace, to the NBA Store, FAO Schwartz and the famous Apple Store, there are enough over-the-top shopping opportunities here to satisfy everyone s taste. Use per diem money for lunch 6:00 PM Dinner and evening activities on your own 12:00 AM Curfew: Return to the hotel for the evening. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 Morning Use per diem money for breakfast 11:00 AM Use per diem money for lunch 12:30 PM Load Equipment Truck and Peoria Charter Coaches 1:00 PM Depart for Whippany High School in New Jersey 2:00 PM Rehearsal at Whippany High School in New Jersey - Open to the Public 4:00 PM Rehearsal concludes Load Equipment Truck and Coaches 4:30 PM Depart for Buffalo Wild Wings Alumni Reception Buffalo Wild Wings 253 West 47th Street New York, New York 10036 6:00 PM Alumni Reception with the Marching Illini kicks off at Buffalo Wild Wings TBD PM Illini Pep Rally in Times Square featuring the Marching Illini - tentative 9:00 PM Buffalo Wild Wings Times Square Alumni Event concludes 10:00 PM Curfew: Lights Out due to early call time tomorrow.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 1:30 AM Wake Up Call Wake Up and dress in full uniform. Bring everything you need for the parade when you come downstairs. Once we depart the hotel, we will not return until after the parade. 2:15 AM Board Peoria Charter Coaches 2:30 AM Depart hotel in full uniform for dress rehearsal with instruments 3:00 AM Arrive at Macy s Herald Square for NBC TV Macy s Parade Rehearsal Unload on Sixth Avenue between 34 th and 36th Streets. Pre-stage on Sixth Avenue. 3:30 AM Rehearsal concludes and board Peoria Charter Coaches 4:00 AM Depart for Breakfast 5:00 AM Full Breakfast at Ellen s Stardust 7:00 AM Depart for the Parade staging area 7:30 AM Band arrives and unloads in uptown staging area in Central Park West. Drive up Amsterdam and unload on the south side of 86 th Street. Stage on the East sidewalk of Central Park West between 77 th and 86 th Streets. 9:00 AM The University Of Illinois Marching Illini steps off in the 89 th Annual Macy s Day Thanksgiving Day Parade With Performance In Herald Square In Front Of Macy's!!! Following the parade take a group photo outside the Post Office Eighth Avenue between 30 th & 31 st Streets Coaches will be waiting on 33 rd Street between Eighth and Tenth Avenues. Noon Return to the hotel to clean up, change, and relax 4:00 PM Check out of hotel and load luggage onto Peoria Charter Coaches 6:00 PM Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner at the Crossroads Restaurant, located on the eighth floor of the New York Marriott Marquis in the heart of Times Square! 1535 Broadway Walk to Radio City Music Hall for tonight s performance.
8:00 PM The curtain rises on the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the world famous Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. 1260 Avenue of the Americas 9:30 PM Show ends and load Peoria Motor Coaches 10:00 PM Depart New York City for Chicago, Illinois FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 7:00 AM Breakfast en route 8:30 AM Depart for Chicago, Illinois 12:00 PM Lunch en route 3:00 PM Arrive in Chicago & Check into Hotel Unload the coaches and leave instruments on coaches and equipment truck. Freshen up. 4:00 PM Load coaches to prepare for rehearsal 4:15 PM Depart for rehearsal at Soldier Field 4:45 PM Arrive Soldier Field and unload instruments and equipment 5:00 PM Senior Show Rehearsal 7:00 PM Rehearsal concludes - load coaches and equipment truck 7:30 PM Depart for hotel and dinner around the hotel on your own via per diem ***Get some rest and follow game day schedule tomorrow