The popular CSU Marching Band will once again kick off the holiday season as they lead the way at the 41st annual 9News Parade of Lights in downtown Denver.
Parade watching in Denver
The Parade of Lights takes place on Friday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. The band’s only appearance is on Friday. The two-mile parade begins at the Denver Civic Center, and, after winding through downtown, concludes at the corner of 14th Street and Glenarm Place.
The parade includes floats, balloons and dozens of holiday characters – but only one collegiate marching band. CSU’s 240 musicians, color guard and Golden Poms will stop in front of the CSU Denver Center, 475 17th St., to perform the fight song for alumni and Ram fans. A reception and bleacher seating at the center is sold out, but parade viewers can still purchase bleacher tickets in other areas along the route.
“One of the goals of the CSU Marching Band is to entertain our audiences, wherever they are. The Parade of Lights is a great chance for us to connect with a huge crowd that we might not otherwise see, and to be part of a wonderful holiday tradition in Denver,” said Richard Frey, director of the CSU Marching Band. “Simply put, it’s a fun way to kick off the holiday season and bring a little musical joy to people from all over Denver and throughout Colo.”
9NEWS will broadcast the parade live on Dec. 5 from 8 to 9 p.m. Tune in on time to see the CSU Marching Band Trombones’ performance of the infamous “No. 5.”
Practice includes preview on Thursday in Fort Collins
If you can’t make it to Denver, the marching band will give a parade preview on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. The band, adorned in twinkling holiday lights, will march around the University Center for the Arts. The public is invited to this free event, followed by hot drinks and cookies inside the UCA lobby.
Make a night of it and stay for the annual Holiday Spectacular Concert supporting music scholarships. Ticket for the Spectacular can be purchased at CSUArtsTickets.com.
About the University Marching Band
The CSU Marching Band’s 240 members include students from every college on campus. More than 70 percent of the members major in a subject other than music.
The band is one of the premiere college bands in the country, whose performances have been heard by millions of fans. The band supports CSU teams and entertains audiences with music ranging from traditional school songs to the latest hits.
The band has been featured at state, national, and international events, including the Denver/9News Parade of Lights, the Rocky Mountain Showdown, Denver Broncos games, Colorado Bandmasters Association State and Regional Festivals, and on national television for the 2014 Las Vegas Bowl. In addition, the band performed internationally for over 750,000 fans along the route of the 2013 St. Patrick’s Festival and Parade in Dublin, Ireland.