HILARY KINDSCHUH / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:00 pm
When Deb Pohlmann became high school band director in Deshler, she thought the idea of a parade in December sounded a little crazy.
But she soon realized how much her students looked forward to marching in Lincoln’s annual Star City Parade, and Deshler is a regular marching band entry.
Last year, it was the only marching band entry.
With temperatures in the teens and 2 inches of snow by noon, most bands — including the 43rd Army Band, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhusker Marching Band and Lincoln’s six public and one private high school bands — canceled.
Twenty bands were scheduled. Only Deshler showed.
“It was cold, but we knew it was going to be cold,” Pohlmann said. “We were prepared for that.”
This Saturday, musicians and fans can expect partly cloudy, “blustery” weather, said Scott Dergan of the National Weather Service. The temperature should be about 25 degrees when the parade begins at 11 a.m.
Saturday’s high is expected to be 32, but northwest winds of 15 mph to 20 mph will drop wind-chill values into the teens, Dergan said.
Last year, the weather scared off potential parade spectators as well as bands.
Courteney Schroeppel, parade chairwoman for the Updowntowners, said about 50,000 people watched last year’s parade. The parade typically draws closer to 85,000, she said.
This year, 14 bands are slated to march.
But not the Cornhusker band. It opted to perform at the Big 12 Championship Game in Kansas City, said Carolyn Barber, the university’s director of bands.
All six of Lincoln’s public high schools expect to send their bands, said Raymond Lowther, LPS supervisor of music.
“We would have loved to have our bands march (last year),” Lowther said. “The main factor was the safety of the kids.”
Schools that pulled bands last year received some criticism, said Lincoln High band director Terry Rush, but a combination of low temps, low wind chills and falling snow — which could damage uniforms and instruments and cause safety risks for students — were factors into the decision.
The Star City Parade is generally a fun experience for students, especially if crowds are receptive, Rush said.
The students work hard to prepare for the parade, he said.
Spectators who see the bands are looking at the finished product, Rush said.
“They don’t know how much time and effort kids put into it,” he said.
Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.
If you go
What: The 2006 Star City Holiday Parade, themed: “Making Spirits Bright”
Where: Begins at 10th and O streets and ends at 13th and M.
When: Starts at 11 a.m.
What else: More information at www.starcityholidayfestival.org