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high school senior

The Legendary Musical Tunnel at Harvest of Harmony Parade

October 8, 2012 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Every first Saturday in October the Harvest of Harmony marching bands fill a certain tunnel in Nebraska with music. For years I  heard about it, my kids have told how awesome the music is when it reverberates in your ears, but I never witnessed this phenomenon until my son’s senior year in high school.

At the beginning of the Harvest of Harmony parade is a long viaduct and the sound of the and music just echos. Over the years I’ve sat at the reviewing stand and various points along the route. Last year I took video of them coming “out” of the tunnel. But being IN the tunnel is awesome!

The sound is amplified and reverberates off the concrete walls. The Elmwood-Murdock band was entry #185, so I had plenty of time to watch, listen, and enjoy other bands.

Harvest of Harmony marching band parade

The Harvest of Harmony parade, held in Grand Island Nebraska, is one of the largest marching band competitions in the country and in 1996 broke a Guinness World Record for the most marching bands in a parade.

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Marching Band competition
My daughter playing the quads

This particular year, 2012, the Elmwood-Murdock High School band was one of 93 bands from across the state and received a 3rd place out of 25 bands in their division.  In years past they have received second place and even came home with the 1st place trophy in 2009.

Marching band parade in the cold Nebraska Weather
In Nebraska we march in 30F weather

The weather is anything but predictable and this day was no exception. Bundling up is the key to staying warm, as the spectator above was sure to do. The parade starts at 8 am and ends three hours later.

The full parade is not only broadcast live on the Grand Island NTV/ABC  television station, but they post videos of each band on their website in a yearly directory going back to 2008. In 2009 the Elmwood-Murdock marching band took first place in Class C and third overall.

Marching band competition in the Midwest
The last view of the last parade of my kids high school career

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Seniors waiting for formal pictures after the band competition
My daughter (rt) with a friend
Senior marching band members after the marching band competition
Seniors being silly. I will miss these kids. (I won’t say which is my daughter, so cute huh?)

At the end of the parade the buses take the schools to the stadium for formal photos on the bleachers. It’s a tradition for a senior photo, my favorite is the “goofy” pose. Yup, this is how the kids really are, in their raw form.

Band Mom's
Band Moms, Cindy and Tracy

Band Moms Unite

Yes, I’m a band Mom. I have literally chased the band down the parade route at many events. I’ve done it for years, from Washington DC to the Nebraska City Apple Jack festival. You take video, take pictures,  run ahead, dodge people and baby strollers, and zig zag down the sidewalk, all while juggling a camera and try not to run out of breath. This time I only chased them a few blocks, found out I’m getting too old to chase bands anymore.

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So I leave the next few years of following the bands to my friend and fellow blogger Tracy (Nebraska Wheatie). Her daughter is also a senior, but she’s lucky to have one more still in band. Yes, we both chase bands, this year I was only 5 feet behind her as we ran through the tunnel. Her husband Jim saved my hide by noticing my cell phone which bounced out of my coat pocket. THANKS JIM!!!

So while I will miss watching band performances, and yes I shed a few tears, I will NOT miss the chase. It’s been quite the journey.

Fun Facts about the Harvest of Harmony Parade and Band competition.

  • First Harvest of Harmony was held October 20, 1938.
  • 8 Schools marched in the first parade: Grand Island, St. Paul, Ravenna, Gibbon, Scotia, Central City, North Loup, and Broken Bow.
  • The parade was originally named the Central Nebraska Music Festival. Changed to Harvest of Harmony in 1946.
  • The 1st Harvest of Harmony Queen was Pelorice France of Gothenburg.
  • St. Paul has the most candidates named Harvest of Harmony Queen with 8.
  • 21 bands performed in the 1948 parade.
  • In 1996, 130 bands marched in the parade “A Guinness World Record”

Harvest of Harmony brings Nebraska’s Finest Bands to Grand Island

Fall, Football & Festivals (nebraskawheatie.com)

More Information on the Harvest of Harmony Parade

VIDEO: Harvest of Harmony Parade Trivia Tuesday

NBC NEBRASKA TODAY — Hundreds will converge in downtown Grand Island this weekend for the 2015 Harvest of Harmony Parade. People will be able to catch a glimpse of their favorite band member. It’s a Central Nebraska staple event for the last 70 …

200 to 1? No problem at GISH Where Director Gets Student Support

It’s show time. Band kids are polishing their shoes, and their marching routines. Harvest of Harmony kicks off the season in a big way. And for one big band, it wouldn’t work without students taking charge. “Stop, stop, stop,” band director Amy …

Chambers: 40 Years of Excellence

Life comes to a standstill when it’s competition time like Harvest of Harmony. Tomjack, the trumpet player said, “The last one to leave Chambers shut off all the lights, they say the whole town comes. I don’t know if that’s true, but some days it seems …

Chamber announces theme for 74th annual Harvest of Harmony Parade

“The Harvest of Harmony committee was so inspired by the enthusiasm of float participants last year,” said Tara Purdie, the chamber’s communications and events coordinator. “We saw such intricately decorated floats, and the participants seemed to enjoy …

Band Gets 4th at Harvest of Harmony Parade

The Alma band traveled to the Annual Harvest of Harmony event this past Saturday. The competed in the Class D parade competition. The band received 4th place at the competition. Here are some pictures of the band …

2014 Harvest of Harmony leaves big impression – The …

2014 Harvest of Harmony leaves big impression. 2014 Harvest of Harmony leaves big impression. By: RN Staff. It’s been this way since Grand Island’s yearly extravaganza of marching bands began in 1938: freezing morning …

Harvest of Harmony Parade, giving hope to the LGBT …

By Cody Jay, NewsNetNebraska. The Harvest of Harmony Parade, in Grand Island, Neb., is a big event for the city. While the Harvest of Harmony Parade is a celebration for the city of Grand Island, for some it is a way to show …

Harvest of Harmony A Success Despite Cold Weather

Despite temperatures hovering in the low 30s, thousands of people lined the streets of downtown Grand Island Saturday morning for the 71st Annual Harvest of Harmony parade.

Extra Info on Harvest of Harmony :: Kearney High School …

Hello all! Below you will find a link to the GI Chamber of Commerce where you can find… the order of march the parade route the stadium schedule and the Pageant schedule. Good luck to all our students and our Queen …

Filed Under: Events, Small Town Living, Travel Adventures Tagged With: band, Grand Island, harvest of harmony, high school, high school senior, marching band, midwest, music, Nebraska, parade, parenthood, small town

Day 158/365: Graduation Cake

May 12, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

High school students graduate in Mid-May in Nebraska and graduation cakes start flying off the shelves. It’s different than a wedding, where the bride and groom will have a cake testing session before picking their baker. Graduation cakes are considered manadatory but at the parties in our area are more of a table decoration as the “real food” is what guest really anticipate.

Most people go to Sams or their local grocery bakery and get a cake.  My son and I had some amazing cake at a wedding we attended about a month ago. The baker was in attendance so I approached her and arranged for her to make his graduation cake.

Graduation Cake

I like supporting local businesses, and a fresh baked cake from Lynnn would be so much fresher and tastier than the cakes from Sam’s that receive frozen sheets by the gross and use prepackaged frosting. It didn’t really cost any more either. Thirty dollars for a half sheet.

Did I tell you my son graduated on his 18th birthday? That in itself was pretty special. He wanted a special birthday cake along with it and picked chocolate. Lynns double chocolate cake was to die for and many people asked who made the cakes. Total on both cakes $45.00, including delivery. Thanks Lynn

Birthday and Graduation Cakes
Birthday and Graduation Cakes

We didn’t have much cake left, all that remained was the picture corner and a small wedge of chocolate.

Most seniors from Elmwood-Murdock High School have their parties on the Saturday of graduation. The parties are pretty much the same, open house style with friends and family and lots of food. On graduation Saturday you can easily go to 9-10 parties, that’s if you’re fast. Halfway through the day you don’t want to look at another piece of cake.

I honestly feel bad for those families who buy full sheet cakes only to have a couple of pieces eaten.

Unique cake toppers and decorations are easily found in various locations, and most bakeries are open to their customers bringing in custom decorations to personalize your seniors special day.

Decorations for Graduation Cakes

MALE GRADUATION BOBBLEHEAD/CAKE TOPPER [Kitchen]Pink Graduation Cake Decorating KitGraduation Silhouette Grad Cap and Gown Edible Designer Prints Cake BorderYou Did It Grad Edible Cake Decoration

Other Graduation Party Ideas

Graduation Cakes – Decoration Ideas | Little Birthday Cakes

As the name suggests, graduation cakes are designed to celebrate the completion of one’s graduation degree. They can also be created for commemorating the.
Best Graduation Party Menu and Decoration Musts

graduation cake As the school year begins to wind down, the graduation party planning begins to wind up. From high school and college to kindergarten, the coming months will bring graduations galore, and such significant occasions call for memorable …
Throw your graduate a great party

Well, it is getting close to the time of year where graduation invitations arrive in our mailbox, and for some of you, your special ones are graduating this year. What a fun and exciting time. Today, I thought I would share some of my graduation party …
Unique Graduation Party Ideas

Flick photo by m00byIf you have a child that’s graduating, you’ll probably spend the majority of graduation day crying tears of joy. But afterward, it’s time to party and celebrate your teen’s milestone. So wipe off that smudged mascara, and check out …
Throw a “Throwback” Graduation Party

Relive the disco years of the 70’s or the totally awesome 80’s by throwing a retro graduation party. Parents can celebrate their child’s graduation by paying homage to their own year of graduation. You can help your child see just how similar and …
Best Graduation Party Menu and Decoration Musts

graduation cake As the school year begins to wind down, the graduation party planning begins to wind up. From high school and college to kindergarten, the coming months will bring graduations galore, and such significant occasions call for memorable …

 

 

Filed Under: Food, Project 365, Small Town Living Tagged With: 365project, chocolate, Elmwood-Murdock, graduation cakes, graduation party, high school, high school senior, Nebraska, postaday, Product Review, project365

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