It’s Louie Louie time!  The Lenexa Community Days Parade will be NEXT THURSDAY, JULY 4.  The Louie Louie Band is entry #4 in the parade.  All band students who have completed 9th grade band, plus all Band Alumni are welcome to join us!

Our staging location will be on 95^th Street between Pflumm and Santa Fe Trail Drive.  We’ll meet at 9:00 am in the lot of Crown Lift Trucks, 9500 Widmer.  Tshirts will be distributed and we’ll warm up before heading to our staging location.  Please note that 95^th Street will be closed—if you are coming west on 95^th Street you will need to turn south (left) on Pflumm, west (right) on W. 96^th Terrace, then north (right) on Widmer.  There will be parade staff around.  Tell them that you’re not driving in the parade, just parking in the Crown Lift Truck lot.  This is also the route that the vehicles driving in the parade are taking to get to the parade route.

We need more participants—current band students and alumni!  We need every type of instrument but are especially thin on all brass and percussion.  We have no low brass players signed up.  We also have only two color guard signed up.

We welcome walk-up participants!  Just bring your instrument and show up at 9:00 that day.  We’ll have tshirts for everyone.  The music is on CHARMS, under documents, Louie Louie Music.  We will not have any rehearsals beforehand.  We’ll also play the school fight song.  If you are a graduate who needs music, tell me what part you need.  I’ll print off a copy for you. IF YOU NEED AN INSTRUMENT FROM THE BAND ROOM I NEED TO KNOW BY MONDAY, JULY 1.

What to wear/bring—it will be hot, and the parade route is 2.25 miles long.  Wear shorts and well-fitting tennis shoes with socks.  You will get your tshirt at 9:00 that morning.  I’d suggest sunscreen!  Maybe a hat?

Band parents will be walking with the students to provide cold water throughout the parade.  And we’ll have popsicles and rest in the shade when we’re finished.  We could use more parent helpers also!

NEW THIS YEAR—BEST OF SHOW AWARD!  We need to be lined up and ready to go by 9:45. There’s a new Best of Show award this year, and we will be judged at 9:45.  We have a chance to win this!  If we’re lined up and playing loud and having a great time.  Maybe you want to dress up your instrument a little?  Wear a funny hat?  It would be nice if we could jazz up our looks a little.  The decorations need to be either patriotic-themed or go with this year’s parade theme “There’s no place like home.”  Nothing political, please.

At the participant meeting last night, we received a challenge from another band’s organizer that they will win the ‘best band’ award this year.  We need to show up and be loud and claim that trophy again this year!

Any questions or want to sign up?  Email Emily Berns emilyaberns@gmail.com.