St. Pete Marching Band To Perform In Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The band's name is proving prophetic. For the second time, the Second Time Arounders Marching Band will perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Abbreviated “Rounders,” the St. Petersburg-based marching band is made up of former high school, college and military band members up to 82 years old who have dusted off their bassoons, batons and bass drums to recapture a cherished time in their youth.

With 440 members, the Rounders are the largest permanent adult marching band in the world.

Bill Findeison, director and co-founder of the 37-year-old marching band, said it's an honor to be chosen once, much less twice, to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, televised around the world to 50 million people. Of the 120 marching bands vying for the honor, only nine are selected to perform in the Macy's parade.

"Most band geeks who have marched in high school or college had a dream to march the big one – the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC," said Findeison. "Having done this 10 years ago with the Rounders (in 2008), I can assure you that it is an experience that will go down as one of life’s major memories."

The band is made up of people with a mutual love of marching bands and a desire for the camaraderie surrounding the band culture.

Middle-aged women who thought their days of wearing short skirts and waving pom poms were long behind them form fast friendships with young women who performed in high school dance corps just a few years ago.

Music professionals rehearse alongside people who haven't picked up their instrument in decades.

"If you ever played in high school or college in the band, it stays with you," said Findeison.

"This organization has so much fun to offer," said Rounders member Angie Brown. "If you’ve stepped outside the music scene for a while, you will find a welcoming experience as you pick up your horn, baton, rifle, flag or pom poms and have the flashback of a lifetime."

Longtime Rounders board member Lee Lafleur, who joined the band 20 years ago as a flute and piccolo player, noted that the Rounders has also forged a number of love connections.

LaFleur met his wife, Stephanie, in the band seven years ago. In the past 18 months, he and his wife have attended four weddings of couples who met through the Rounders.

Throughout the year, the Rounders participate in parades and events throughout the state -- from Key West to Tallahassee. Every two or three years, the band performs at a major out-of-state parade like the Seattle Seafair Parade in Seattle, Washington, in 2016; the Cherry Blossom Parade and Jefferson Memorial Concert in Washington, D.C., in 2014; and the Calgary Stampede Parade Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 2011.

Lafleur serves as the band's trip coordinator, in charge of transporting band instruments and other equipment by truck to the parade destination, arranging airline and hotel reservations for band members and organizing the itinerary including visits to tourist attractions.

He said this week, in addition to 450 musicians, twirlers, dancers, rifle corps members, letters and color guard members, nearly 400 family members and friends will accompany the band to New York City. After the parade performance, Lafleur is arranging a Thanksgiving dinner in the Big Apple for 650 band members and their families.

Courtesy the Rounders

In preparation for their 2 1/2-mile march through Herold Square, the band has held weekly rehearsals since September. Lafleur noted that two members -- Andrea Nelson of Texas and Paddy McMahon of Cambridge, Ontario, flew in from out of state, never missing a rehearsal.

The annual Thanksgiving parade, known for its larger-than-life balloon characters, floats, performances by Broadway and music stars, kicks off at 9 a.m. Thursday. This year's parade will feature Celine Dion, the Black Eyed Peas and Idina Menzel, among others.

"We will perform two parade tunes during the Macy’s parade and one show tune in front of the TV cameras in Herald Square for national TV," said Findeison.

For those who miss the Rounders' Thanksgiving Day performance, the band will perform Dec. 9 at the Holiday Spectacular at the Palladium in St. Petersburg and Dec. 14 at the annual Pinellas Park Christmas Parade Dec. 14.