It’s Saturday morning the weekend before Halloween. I look over to my alarm which reads 7 AM, and I’m wondering if I even want to be awake this early after a football game and if I want to stay at home and sleep. Those of you who aren’t in the marching band probably don’t understand what I’m talking about, but the neighborhood Halloween parades have always been a topic of discussion near the end of the season.

First, the entire band goes to Marshall Elementary’s Trick or Trot race and then the band splits up into three separate groups that each parade around different neighborhoods. But, for the past two years, the parades have consistently been rained out and we haven’t been able to perform. 

One of the most anticipated parts of the neighborhood parades is signing up for the different groups. Each of the three drum majors takes a parade through different neighborhoods. There’s always a sense of panic whenever the lists for parade signups are posted. You might have to literally push through people just to write your name under a specific group. 

And while the underclassmen may not know the joys and annoyances of the neighborhood parades, the senior class does. “When I was a freshman, I remember the parades being really fun,” said Drum Major Meg Rees. “I always looked forward to the parades every year, so I was excited about actually being able to parade this year. Only to find out I had hyped myself up and they were extremely exhausting. My calves and legs hurt for at least four hours after the parade.”

In my freshman year, I’ll admit that I did not want to do marching band for an entire Saturday. My family had just moved into our new house the night before and I ready for marching band to be over for the year. But, things never work out the way I want and the parades were already on their way at 8 AM. 

Perhaps what students find most enticing about the parades is how loosely structured it is. No one is yelling directions at the band so overall it’s more relaxed and enjoyable.  

Senior Mellophone player, Ana Granite, loves the lack of structure. “During one parade, I switched instruments with a trumpet player,” Granite said. “Most of the fingerings were the same and it was cool to march in their rank.”

This year was the band’s lucky year. For the first time in two years, the neighborhood parades weren’t canceled. The buildup to Saturday was pretty tense. Most kids were constantly checking the weather before the game on Friday night. Others were taking part in superstitious activities in hopes of delaying the oncoming rainstorms. 

My friends and I started a tradition of having a sleepover before the parades in sophomore year. We thought it would be best if we slept in completely separate rooms in order to ward off the evil rain spirits. I genuinely thought that there weren’t going to be parades this year, so, of course, I stayed up until 1 AM watching random videos on YouTube. 

I quickly began to regret that decision as I sat, eyes glazed over, on a school bus going to Marshall Elementary while the others around me were full of energy and pep. After playing at Marshall’s Trick or Trot, the parade groups set off to their respective neighborhoods. There were a couple of setbacks throughout the day when it started to rain, but, in the end, I honestly think it went pretty well. I’m glad that, during my senior year, I finally got to do a neighborhood parade.