Grammy Award-winning band Kool & the Gang will usher in the Bronx Zoo’s holiday season with a fitting rendition of their most iconic anthem.

BRONX, NY – November 3, 2025 – Today, the Bronx Zoo announced that Grammy Award-winning R&B, soul, and funk band Kool & the Gang, known for beloved songs like “Celebration”, “Jungle Boogie”, and “Ladies’ Night”, will take the stage on the zoo’s Wondrous World of Wildlife float in the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®.

In a nod to the Bronx Zoo’s celebratory Holiday Lights festival – which kicks off November 21, 2025 – Kool & the Gang will delight lifetime listeners and new audiences alike with their timeless hit, “Celebration”, which has been a longstanding international staple since its single debut. The all-ages appeal of the song echoes the breadth of the Bronx Zoo’s audience and the welcoming draw of its world-class exhibits.

“We’re honored to bring our energy and vibe to the Bronx Zoo’s float,” said Robert “Kool” Bell, Founding Member of Kool & the Gang. “‘Celebration’ is the perfect soundtrack to the Bronx Zoo’s holiday programming and is a great way to kick off the season at one of New York’s most celebrated parks.”

Kool & the Gang’s incredible catalog of grooves has earned the band two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. The smash hit “Celebration” has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and remains de rigueur at joyous occasions worldwide.

“It’s great to welcome Kool & the Gang to perform on our Bronx Zoo float this year,” said Jim Breheny, Director of the Bronx Zoo and EVP of WCS Zoos & Aquarium. “Their iconic anthem,  ‘Celebration’ resonates across generations. The Bronx Zoo, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Kool & the Gang together present a wonderful holiday combination for folks of all ages.”

The Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights is New York City’s most festive night out, with millions of lights for guests to delight in and a lineup of fun-for-all holiday activities. Six signature lantern trails, featuring over 400 animal- and plant-themed lanterns, will connect visitors to species found across Wildlife Conservation Society’s global programs and at the Bronx Zoo.

The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air Thursday, November 27 in the U.S. on NBC and stream on Peacock from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in all time zones. Following the Parade, viewers are invited to experience the wonder of the Bronx Zoo firsthand during Holiday Lights, running November 21, 2025 - January 4, 2026 on select nights. Tickets are on sale now at bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights.

About Kool & the Gang
From Nairobi to Newark, Kool & the Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history. Their undeniable funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled R&B band of all time. Every year, even after a half-century on the road, yields a non-stop schedule of shows across the globe. Thanks to iconic songs like “Celebration”, “Cherish”, “Jungle Boogie”, “Summer Madness”, and “Open Sesame”, they’ve earned several awards, a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2018 and most recently, an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Class of 2024. Today, the group enjoys global fame and recognition along with a following that spans generations due in part to the group’s widely sampled catalogue. Their music is heard everywhere, from movie soundtracks to television commercials, including Rocky, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Wreck-It Ralph and countless others.