Meg Donnelly Reveals Holiday ‘Dream’ She’s Fulfilling This Year (Exclusive)

Meg Donnelly is fulfilling one of her lifelong dreams this holiday season.  

Ahead of performing her song “Dancin’ Around” at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 27, the Zombies star, 25, expresses to PEOPLE just how special the milestone is for her and her family. 

“It was a tradition of mine and my mom’s,” Donnelly explains. “We would drive over to my grandparents’ house every single Thanksgiving morning, early so that we could watch the parade as soon as it went on.”

While the tradition started with her, her mom, and her grandma, Donnelly shares that her family made sure to keep it alive after her grandmother died. They also look forward to seeing the Radio City Rockettes each year, which she recalls were her grandma’s favorite.

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“Being able to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade and see the Rockettes and all the floats and the balloons, it just reminds me of being at my grandparents’ house growing up,” the actress gushes. “My mom and I have kept the tradition alive every single year. So, since I was younger, it’s been my dream to perform at the parade because it’s such a huge thing for me and my family … very full circle.”

Donnelly, who also recently made her Broadway debut in Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be performing her original song on the LEGO Group’s Brick-tastic Winter Mountain Float, which features ski slopes, Arctic seals, hockey tournaments, and ice fishing — all made from existing LEGO bricks, pieces and characters.

As for other traditions Donnelly is looking forward to this holiday season? While she emphasizes there are too many to choose from, she says that her mom has always been “obsessed” with New York City’s iconic Fifth Avenue Snowflake. 

“Every year, especially if we’re here, she has to take a photo of me in front of the snowflake,” she notes with a laugh. “So that’s a tradition. And seeing the tree, the winter shops … I’ve already been and got my fried pickles. Christmas in the city, it’s amazing.”