HUMBOLDT — The Pride of Humboldt Concert Band and Humboldt High School’s pop choir are performing at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., May 6, during the annual Music in the Park Festival.
Members of the HHS band and the school’s choir typically travel to the annual festival every other year, according to Terry Meadows, music director. The festival is held at different locations. Two years ago band members traveled to Chicago.
“This year we are combining middle school and high school, so seventh through 12th will go, Meadows said. The high school’s pop choir will also perform there.
The Humboldt concert band will perform at Seymour High School, Seymour, Tenn., and the pop choir will perform at Northview Academy, Kodak, Tenn.
This year’s senior band members selected the location. In Chicago, both ensembles won first place, Meadows said.
“I really like doing the Music in the Park Festivals,” he said.“I like the way they are run and it’s feasible.”
Cost of the trip is approximately $23,000, according to Meadows, and students elected to either raise, through various fundraisers, or to pay, $300 each. The Helen Whitehead Gates Trust donation paid for the charter bus, Meadows said.
“They help us out every other year, and we are very appreciative of that,” Meadows said.
The itinerary for the trip includes visits to both Ober Gatlinburg and Dixie Stampede.
Dolly Parton is scheduled to appear at the 31st Annual Dolly’s Homecoming Parade in Pigeon Forge, May 5. Meadows said he does not believe she is scheduled to attend the awards ceremony on May 6.
“If she is up for the parade maybe she will show up on Saturday at the park,” Meadows said. “I don’t know, we could hope.”
MEANWHILE, Humboldt High seniors chose Chicago as their destination of choice for this year’s senior class trip.
Meadows said the students were given a choice of five destinations ranging from Dallas to Chicago.
“This year changed,” Meadows said. “We stayed within 10 hours because that is how far we can go on a bus without having to stop for a day.”
Voting was only half the battle. According to Meadows, the students also had to raise approximately $14,000 to cover the cost of the trip. Through a variety of fundraising events like selling lemonade, enchiladas, and raffling off a processed hog donated by Personal Service Insurance, Meadows said the students raised not only the $14,000, but also enough to allow each of the 19 students to have $60 to go toward food and spending money.
The trip, which takes place March 13-16, includes visits to the SkyDeck at Willis Tower, a Chicago Bulls game, a lunch cruise on Lake Michigan, the Shedd Aquarium, Firehouse 51 from “Chicago Fire” and The Second City. The students will meet at 3 a.m. March 13, for bag checks and breathalyzers before the 3:30 a.m. departure.
“It’s a good time,” Meadows said. “The kids are always good on the trips. We have never had any problems.”
The students will stay at the Springhill Suites, Marriott in downtown Chicago.
