The annual Milaca Rhythm on the Rum Parade is preparing to come in with a bang on Thursday, June 20.
Known as one of the largest parades for marching bands in the state, this year’s parade will be no different. According to Milaca Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Faith Goenner, the parade is expected to have 22 marching bands this year.
“The highlight is that we have 22 of the best marching bands in the state coming. That includes the Milaca bands; they’re well-known in the competitions,” Goenner said.
Milaca has four marching bands that will be participating in the parade this year: the Milaca Alumni Band, the Milaca High School Marching Wolves, the Milaca Junior High Marching Band, and the Milaca Fifth Grade Marching Band.
This year, the Alumni Band has also made the decision to broaden its scope to recruit new members by welcoming marchers who may not have graduated from Milaca Schools.
“The alumni band told me this year that you need not have gone to the Milaca Schools to be part of the alumni band. So they’re broadening their scope,” Goenner said.
The theme of the parade this year is the same as the Milaca High School Marching Wolves’, “Home Run! Baseball and America!” and it currently has 60 units and counting preparing to march the streets.
The band’s show is baseball themed with a musical medley of songs most recognizable from American baseball games such as “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” “America the Beautiful,” and bits of the traditional “Shaker Song” arranged by the band’s director Andrew Nelson.
Audiences can expect the show to hint at major historical baseball events from Minnesota, including the 1991 Minnesota Twins World Series appearance and victory at the end of the show.
All 22 bands in the parade will perform at four designated spots along the parade route, twice before the judging area, once in the judging area, and once after the judging area.
“You will have multiple times to see your kids perform. So we are hoping people will spread out more along the parade route and we are putting food trucks all along the parade route also,” Goenner said.
The judges stand will be located in the same place as in previous years, next to Trimble Park at First Street West.
The Chamber warns those who plan on catching candy should avoid sitting within the performance areas, and parade floats will be asked not to throw candy within these zones for the safety of the bands.
“Another thing that the judging has asked is that the floats not throw candy in the performance areas. So plan accordingly,” Goenner said. “It can be dangerous for the bands and their performances, and we really want them to be able to perform at their best.”
The Chamber will place signs along the parade route to indicate the designated performance areas.
Another difference with the parade this year is that the Chamber will be handing out programs along the parade route to highlight each of the bands in the parade.
“We are going to have a marching band program that will get handed out on the parade route. It will showcase all of the bands that are marching and it will include a bio of the band and a picture,” Goenner said. “I really want to give a shout-out to the community businesses: They gave money to put their logo in the (program), but it really funded something the school has wanted to do for many years.”
The parade route will also feature food trucks scattered throughout for all parade attendees to enjoy. The food trucks that will be along the route will be announced on the Chamber’s website as the information becomes available.
The Rhythm on the Rum Parade is set to start at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20. Roads will begin to close at 4:30 p.m. and parking will no longer be allowed on the parade route.
The route will follow the same path as previous years: starting on Ninth Street NW, turning down Second Street NW, turning onto Third Street SE, and concluding near Milaca Schools.
Also taking place the week of the parade are the annual Kiddie Parade and a Homerun Punch Card through participating businesses.
The Kiddie Parade will take place at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, with registration starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Teal’s parking lot. The parade will follow the traditional route of marching from Teal’s, up Second Avenue SW, turning onto Second Street NW, and concluding at Rec Park.
The Homerun Punch Cards feature six participating local businesses, and for each person who turns in a completed punch card, they will be entered into a drawing to receive a prize of a $30 from one of those businesses.
The participating businesses are the First National Bank of Milaca, Teal’s Market, Coffee Corner, Abby Lingle Pottery, Ziegler Laser Worx LLC, and Backroad Meats.
The punch cards begin on June 15 and run until June 22. Pick up a punch card at any of the participating businesses. Winners will be randomly selected from the drawing on Monday, June 24.
“I just can’t thank the community enough. I’m new to this job, and they make it so easy with how engaged they are. We couldn’t do it without the sponsorships,” Goenner said. “I really want to thank the city, the school, the board of the chamber, and the community for keeping this going. I really appreciate their support of this.”
Below is the list of 22 bands set to perform during the Rhythm on the Rum Parade in alphabetical order.
- 728 Cadets
- Albany Marching Huskies
- Alexandria Area High School Marching Band
- Benson High School Marching Band
- Buffalo High School Marching Band - “The Herd”
- Champlin Park Marching Rebels
- Cotter Marching Band
- Dassel-Cokato Marching Chargers
- Foley Falcons Marching Band
- Hibbing High School Marching Band
- KMS Marching Saints
- Milaca Fifth Grade Marching Band
- Milaca Alumni Marching Indians
- Milaca Junior High Marching Band
- Milaca High School Marching Wolves
- Owatonna High School Marching Band
- Patriots Marching Band
- Sartell Middle School Marching Band
- Sartell High School Marching Band
- Sauk Rapids - Rice Middle School Marching Band
- Sauk Rapids - Rice High School Marching Band
- Waconia High School Marching Band
To learn more about the marching bands, visit https://www.milacachamber.com/2024marchingbands.
To learn more about the Rhythm on the Rum Parade, visit https://www.milacachamber.com/milaca-parade.
Reach Chloe Smith at chloe.smith@apgecm.com
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