The Texas A&M University-Commerce Pride Marching Band participated in the 2011 Children’s Medical Center Holiday Parade in downtown Dallas on Dec. 3.
The marching band was amidst a variety of other local bands, performers, and floats.
A&M Commerce band director Scott Atchison admitted that parades are not typically looked forward to by most band members.
Atchison said the band accepts the invitation because it works as a service towards the university. He said it is a good way to represent the school. They strive represent the college the best they can even if that means getting the band together early in the morning to travel.
The expenses that are involved in making trips to parades and events can get well into the thousands.
“We get invited every year, but we can’t afford it every year,” Atchison said.
The A&M-Commerce marching band tries to make an appearance at the Holiday Parade in Dallas at least every other year in addition to other parades they perform in such as the Bois D’ Arc Bash Parade in Commerce and the Homecoming Parade.
The cloudy weather and chance of rain on Saturday did not bring any delay to the parade.
“Last time we came, it was freezing,” Atchison said.
They were pleased to have better weather this year. With the threat of rain, however, the Pride Marching Band did not get to wear their uniform hats.
Other performers in the lineup also prepared for bad weather by wearing plastic ponchos over their uniforms.
Childrensmedicalcenterdallas.com says the parade has provided a holiday showcase in Dallas annually for 24 years. This year’s parade, hosted by Capital One Bank and Pizza Hut, Inc., was expected to be broadcast to over 100 million homes across the country and attract around 350,000 spectators.
The parade was created to help raise money for the patients at Children’s Medical.
The main attraction in the lineup was former American Idol contestant Jordin Sparks along with eight local bands, six giant inflatable balloons, 14 performance groups, and six floats. Of course, Santa Clause made his appearance in the final float.