Macy's sponsoring Oakland's very own "America's Children's Holiday Parade"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 MACY’S HAS BECOME SPONSOR OF

AMERICA’S CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PARADE

 OAKLAND, CA – Macy’s, known worldwide as the leader in parades and holiday programming, has become a sponsor of America’s Children’s Holiday Parade for 2012.

This year’s parade, the 13^th annual, will be held in downtown Oakland on Saturday, Dec. 1 beginning at 2 p.m.

Macy’s helps bring magic to millions of people around the globe with its countless holiday events, including the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, numerous “Glamorama” theatrical shows, and its partnerships with many organizations to host tree lighting ceremonies and other holiday-related events.

As part of its sponsorship with America’s Children’s Holiday Parade, Macy’s will present the 230-member Mission San Jose High School Marching Band from Fremont, California, a regular participant. The band has represented our country throughout Europe, and last year performed in the London New Year’s Parade and Gala Concert.

America’s Children’s Holiday Parade, founded and managed by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, is seen by more than one million people world-wide, enjoying the thrills and pageantry of the parade as well as the beauty of Oakland. This year’s parade will mark the seventh time that it will be offered to public broadcast stations (PBS) across the country, and the fourth year it will be broadcast on the American Forces Family Network to 175 countries and U.S. territories around the globe.

“We’re delighted to have Macy’s as a new sponsor of America’s Children’s Holiday Parade,” says Chamber of Commerce President Joe Haraburda. “We’ve long admired the quality and content of the Thanksgiving Day Parade and look forward to Macy’s helping with our west coast event as we strive to be one of the finest holiday parades in the country.”

On parade day in Oakland, more than 100,000 people – children of all ages – converge on downtown Oakland to enjoy the spectacular floats, the colorful balloons, the beautiful floats, and the award-winning marching bands. Some 40 cartoon and storybook children’s characters entertain. As do bands – many bands. The 2012 parade will feature some 20 marching high school bands, as well as two international bands – from Guatemala and Jamaica. It is the first holiday parade in the country, in fact, that features bands from outside of the United States.

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CONTACT:    Hank Masler, (510) 874-4808, hmasler@oaklandchamber.com

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Twitter: @oaklandholiday