ATHENS, Ohio (AP): Ohio University’s marching band will perform at next year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Macy’s officials and band leaders surprised members of the Marching 110 with the news of their selection on Thursday night at the southern Ohio school in Athens.

The Cincinnati-based retailer says the band was selected from among 175 applicants as one of 10 marching bands to participate in the 2017 parade in the Big Apple.

Band director Richard Suk says it will be the third time the university’s band has appeared in the annual parade.

The parade that draws millions of viewers and involves thousands of participants began in 1924.