The late (or early, depending on how you look at it) wake up call came at 12 noon. After a little free time at the hotel pool, lunch (the Domino pizza buffet) came at around 2:30. Then it was time to get the game face on for the main event; the Fiesta Flambeau Parade through downtown San Antonio. The buses arrived at the staging area at 5:30pm, only to endure a three hour wait in the staging area. Finally, the signal was given to step off into the HUGE crowds that lined the parade route. The people of San Antonio like their parades and turned out to express their appreciation for their guests from Mississippi. The skies were overcast and the humidity level VERY high, but the rain held off…but not quite long enough. Just as the band was exiting the parade and approaching the buses the bottom fell out and everyone was pretty well soaked as they struggled to load equipment in the rain. After another delay, we finally left for a midnight dinner at The Magic Time Machine restaurant where the staff dress and act like famous movie characters. There is something not quite right about being served by Jack Sparrow and Beetle Juice. Robby Brasher and Dennis Wofford were roughed up a bit by Lara Croft, but in an entertaining sort of way. Everyone finally got to bed around 2:30am after a very but fulfilling day.

The second day had the band performing again, but only in the roll of Texas tourists. After breakfast and church services in the main hotel conference room, everyone loaded up for a day of wet fun at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, TX. The weather was warm, the water was cold and the entire afternoon was spent enjoying all the great water rides and slides. Click on any of the pictures to go to the photo page and see the entire visual record of the trip so far.

To cap off the day, Mr. Cox gathered everyone up outside the hotel after Sunday night dinner and announced the results of the previous night’s parade competition. You can watch and hear him him break the news to the band by clicking on the video below. See you tomorrow!

Band members, and twin brothers, Brett and Kyle Anderson recently landed on the front pages of the lifestyle sections of both of the major local newspapers. The two Pride of Desoto Central Marching Band seniors were recently awarded full scholarships by the United States Air Force. Read the articles in The Desoto County Tribune and the Desoto Appeal newspapers to get the full stories about these two stand-out band members!