Fall Fantasy

By SANDY MARWICK Eagle Focus Editor

August 23, 2008 Last Updated: August 23, 2008 01:38 PM Community

The Golden Tornado Marching Band, above, performs Wednesday during the Fall Fantasy Parade Celebration at Kennywood. Before the parade, band members get to spend a free day at the park. At top,

Bands blend fun, practice at Kennywood

After the sometimes grueling reality of summer band camp, several groups of high school musicians are treating themselves to a bit of fantasy.

Five marching bands from the area participated this year in the Kennywood Fall Fantasy Parade Celebration, marking its 59th season at the amusement park in West Mifflin.

As part of the program, the marching bands spend a free day in the park before debuting their new routines in an evening parade.

With the theme "Pittsburgh on Parade," this year's program began Aug. 12 with parades offered at 8 p.m. every night through Sunday. An additional program is planned for Aug. 29.

As many as 12 high school bands perform in each parade, according to a Kennywood media release, with floats and local celebrities featured.Although Butler High School's Golden Tornado Marching Band participated on Wednesday, they were preceded by Freeport High School on Aug. 12, Knoch High School on Aug. 16, and Slippery Rock High School on Monday. Mars High School will perform on Saturday.Andy Yaracs, director of the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band, said visiting the amusement park allows musicians to unwind after intensive band camp training, but the parade also provides a practice opportunity much like Steelers pre-season football."It gives us a chance to see where we're at in a more relaxed atmosphere — especially the new rookie band members," Yaracs said, noting many new marchers have not yet performed for large crowds.Les Fine, director of the Slippery Rock High School Rocket Marching Band, agrees."It's a very nice reward for the students after completing two rigorous weeks of band camp," Fine said."It's a first chance for a lot of the rookies to perform in front of a crowd — it makes them much better performers."

Jamie Laughner and Justin Morrison, senior drum major and assistant drum major for the Rocket Marching Band, also found the practice march helpful."It was good — of course it was rough," Laughner said. "It was our first performance.""We pulled it off pretty well," added Morrison. "It's the beginning of the season, but I think we did a nice job."Sarah Cook, a senior at Butler High School and a four-year Golden Tornado flutist, said the parade also provides a training ground for "falling back," a formation change in which even-numbered marchers fall behind odd-numbered marchers in the line, allowing them to proceed through narrowing spaces.Typical halftime performances don't necessitate falling back, so marchers can become rusty, Cook said.But time in the park is also a highlight."This year I got brave, and for the first time I rode a roller coaster," Cook said. "I was a little bit afraid."Morrison and Laughner both cite the Exterminator and roller coasters as favorite rides — with Potato Patch french fries a coveted food.

Although Kennywood is under new ownership as of June, public relations director Mary Lou Rosemeyer said the long-standing Fall Fantasy Parade program will continue."It's so successful, and so much fun," Rosemeyer said."There are kids who march whose parents marched."Some band directors — Yaracs included — also marched there as high school students.But for many of this year's seniors, the march at Kennywood will be their last."It was kind of bittersweet: It was our last one," Cook said."(But) I enjoyed it. It's fun to be with your friends doing something fun before school starts."Rosemeyer said the event draws marching bands from West Virginia and Ohio, filling the available openings each season."Many of the bands have held their night for years and years and years," she said. "There are other bands that would like to march, we just don't have quite enough room." IF YOU'RE GOINGWHAT: Kennywood amusement parkWHEN: Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 14 plus Sept. 1, Labor Day, from 10:30 a.m. to around 10 p.m.Phantom Fright Nights are Fridays and Saturdays from Sept. 26 through Nov. 1, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., plus Oct. 12 from 7 to 11 p.m.WHERE: Along Route 837; 4800 Kenneywood Blvd., West MifflinADMISSION: $32, regular; $19, juniors; $15 seniors; $17, night riders. Fright Night ticket costs $23.

Members of the Golden Tornado Marching Band practice before the Fall Fantasy Parade at Kennywood. The annual day at Kennywood allows high school musicians to unwind after two grueling weeks of band camp training.

Musician Miko Alcantara is reflected in the mirrors at the duck game.

Butler High School’s Sequinettes perform during the 59th annual Fall Fantasy Parade Celebration at Kennywood. As many as 12 high school bands perform in each evening parade during the celebration, which began Aug. 12.

Band members ready to make a splash on the Log Jammer include, from front to back, Katie Straynick, 14, Taylor Kovach, 15, Jennifer Croft, 14, and Olivia Swiergol, 14.

Members of the drum line in Butler High School's Golden Tornado Marching Band practice Wednesday before the Fall Fantasy Parade at Kennywood.

Golden Tornado Marching Band members Colby Slater, 18, front, Joe Caparosa, 18, left, Stephen Vollmer, 18, back, and Josh Shuster, 17, right, enjoy a ride Wednesday on the Wave Swinger at Kennywood.

Colby Slater, left, a senior member of the Butler High School Golden Tornado Marching Band, tries to touch the hand of a girl riding in the blue cars on the Racer roller coaster at Kennywood.