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Before and after the holiday, Cornellians will gather in NYC for beloved events: the Sy Katz ’31 Parade and Frozen Apple hockey

By Melissa Newcomb

In late November, New York City will be bursting with Big Red spirit and tradition, with an iconic parade and a men’s hockey game held on back-to-back weekends.

First, on Saturday, November 23, the Sy Katz ’31 Parade will grace Midtown Manhattan.

Nicknamed NYC's “shortest parade with the longest history,” the biennial event is named in honor of a devoted Cornellian and avid supporter of the Big Red Marching Band who passed away in 1983.

The Big Red Marching Band during the 2018 Sy Katz ’31 Parade in New York City — The march down Fifth Avenue is a thrill for band members and spectators alike.

Deciding that the band deserved its own parade, in 1972 Katz spearheaded the effort to obtain a permit that allowed it to march one city block.

The parade (now slightly longer) has since grown into a gala affair, with related events held before and after it.

The Sy Katz ’31 Parade is nicknamed NYC’s 'shortest parade with the longest history.'

The festivities kick off at 3 p.m. with a gathering at T-Squared Social on 42nd Street, featuring a light buffet, drinks, and games like darts and a golf simulator.

Revelers move outdoors to view the parade between 5 and 5:30.

At around 6, the band will perform outside the Cornell Club–New York, just off Fifth Avenue; afterward, the club will host a tailgate party including chicken wings, chili, pulled pork sliders, and more.

The Big Red Band leader stands on a ladder while directing the band at the Sy Katz '31 Parade — A joyful noise outside the Cornell Club.

(Preregistration is required for the pregame and tailgate parties.)

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The following Saturday, November 30, Big Red men’s hockey will take on Quinnipiac in the biennial Frozen Apple game in Madison Square Garden.

On November 30, Big Red men’s hockey will take on Quinnipiac in the Frozen Apple.

The event, which began in 2012, is held in even-numbered years—with Red Hot Hockey, also at MSG, occurring in odd-numbered ones.

Unlike Red Hot Hockey—which always pits the Big Red against longtime rival Boston University—the Frozen Apple features varying opponents.

Cornell and Boston men's hockey teams playing the Red Hot Hockey game at Madison Square Garden — Action on the ice at MSG (seen here during Red Hot Hockey).

(Past foes have included UConn, Harvard, Yale, Michigan, and Penn State.)

Tickets are on sale now, and selling quickly; more than 30 classes are organizing block seating for members and their guests.

The puck drops at 7 p.m.—but a variety of pregame festivities are on tap, including a dinner at the nearby Printer’s Alley restaurant, a gathering for young alumni at American Whiskey, and a concert by the Big Red Pep Band.

Cornell hockey fans cheering at Madison Square Garden — The game draws fans of all ages.

(Preregistration is required for the dinner and the young alumni event.)

“What’s incredible about the game at MSG is experiencing the generations of Lynah Faithful coming together—from current students to fans who remember the last time the team won the NCAA Championship,” says Scott Pesner ’87, president of the Cornell Hockey Association, which promotes and supports Big Red men’s hockey. “It’s a great Cornell experience.”

(Top: Photo of Touchdown in the big city by Lindsay France / Cornell University.)

Published October 18, 2024

Around Thanksgiving, the Big Apple Turns Big Red

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