POWDERSVILLE — The Marching Pats of Powdersville High School have a busy season ahead of them.
Besides putting together programs for football games and making the final arrangements for their second annual Powdersville Premier, the marching band is having a mattress sale this year to help raise funds to get the band to Washington, D.C., for the National Parade in 2016.
“The kids have worked so hard for this, and it’s really quite an honor,” Theresa Neuburger, vice president of the PVHS Band Booster Club, said of the National Parade. “It’s the Fourth of July parade and not just anyone can go. You have to be invited.”
According to Neuburger, Powdersville High’s marching band was the only band from South Carolina to get an invite.
“But it’s not cheap,” she said. “To get everyone — including all the equipment and instruments — to D.C. is going to cost around $60,000. We’re no where near that mark yet.”
To help the band raise some of the needed funds, the Marching Pats are hosting several fundraisers this year, the first being a mattress sale.
“We’re kind of taking a page out of some of the other school’s playbooks for this one,” said Neuburger. “Some of the other area schools have hosted mattress sales and they seem to have a lot of success with it.”
The mattresses are name brands and will not only be available in all sizes but also cost up to 50 percent less than retail.
The mattress sale will be in the Commons area of the high school on Sept. 12.
The following weekend, Sept. 19, the second annual Powdersville Premier is scheduled.
“It’s going to be the same as last year, only bigger. Everything’s bigger,” stated Neuburger. “Last year we had nine bands come in from all over the area. This year we have 18 already committed.”
The Powdersville Premier is an exhibition event featuring local marching bands, drum lines and color guards. Nationally recognized judges and choreographers come in and host clinics before the bands put on their field show.
“It’s a chance for them to perfect their routines before competition season and a chance for the public to see just how talented these musicians really are,” Neuburger said.
The Premier runs all day Saturday with the public shows starting around 5:30 p.m. on the main field. Admission is $5 (cash) at the gate with all proceeds going to support the Marching Pats.
