Colorado State University Marching Band Featured in 9News Parade of Lights in Denver Dec. 4

Note to Reporters: The CSU Marching Band will perform a Parade of Lights rehearsal in full uniform and lights at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the University Center for the Arts in Fort Collins. The parade preview will start at the corner of Pitkin and Peterson streets. The public is welcome to attend the rehearsal.

The Colorado State University Marching Band is the first collegiate marching band invited to participate in the 9News Parade of Lights. The 240-member band will perform in the 35th annual Denver holiday parade on Dec. 4.

At 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, the CSU Marching Band will feature the infamous trombone suicides in front of the main grandstand to kick off the parade. From there, the entire band – along with CAM the Ram, a Rambouillet ram – will perform in the annual parade through downtown Denver where 400,000 holiday viewers are expected along the parade route. Another 300,000 viewers are expected to watch the event on TV. The band will be performing live on Friday, Dec. 4, only.

To commemorate this historic first-time appearance in the Parade of Lights, CSU will host a special reception with viewing areas of the parade. A free indoor reception starts at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4 in the lobby of the CSU Denver Center at 410 17th St. The reception will include hot chocolate, cookies and views of two legs of the parade. Although the reception is free, registration is required by noon, Dec. 2.

CSU has also reserved bleacher seats along 17th Street and Tremont Place. Space is limited for the bleachers and registration is required. The cost is $10 to reserve a bleacher seat. To reserve reception and/or bleacher seating, visit www.alumni.colostate.edu .

Denver Parade of Lights
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4
Where: Downtown Denver
Details: The parade starts in front of Civic Center Park and the City and County Building on Bannock Street at 14th Avenue.

CSU free reception: 6 -9 p.m. in the lobby of the CSU Denver Center building at 17th and Tremont in Denver (reservations required).

CSU bleacher seating: $10 per seat, bleachers located outside the 410 building on the corner of 17th and Tremont (reservations required).

Watch the Parade of Lights on Channel 9
Live Broadcast: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4
Re-Broadcasts: 6 p.m. Dec. 12 on 9News; 6 p.m. Dec. 13 on My20 Comcast Channel 3; 10:35 p.m. Dec. 24 on 9News

CSU’s Marching Band Preview for the Parade of Lights in Fort Collins
Can’t make it to Denver for the parade? Support the CSU Marching Band during a parade preview on the streets around the University Center for the Arts. The uniformed band – complete with lights – takes to the street at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the corner of Pitkin and Peterson streets in Fort Collins. The rehearsal parade will progress counterclockwise around the UCA. The preview will last about half an hour and the public is welcome to attend.

About the CSU Marching Band
The Colorado State University Marching Band, under the direction of J. Steven Moore and Chris Nicholas, began in 1901 with only 13 members. Out of the 240 members, only 30 percent are music majors and the remaining band members represent all eight colleges across the CSU campus in Fort Collins. An average band member spends 17 hours each week in rehearsal or performing. The CSU Marching Band appears at more than 60 performances a year. The band was recently invited to provide halftime entertainment at this season’s throwback Denver Broncos game, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Denver Broncos Football Club.

The Colorado State University Marching Band was honored in March for contributions of excellence and creativity to the marching profession at the national conference for the College Band Directors National Association. It was one of only five bands honored.

The 9NEWS Parade of Lights is presented by American Furniture Warehouse and GO Automotive Group.

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