Mount Vernon High’s marching band headed to perform in Chicago Thanksgiving Parade

In a preview performance, the Marching Mustangs stopped by the home of legendary band director Don Stine

Nov. 23, 2021 11:42 am, Updated: Nov. 23, 2021 2:45 pm

Mount Vernon High School Marching Mustangs senior Steven Wolfe plays during a preview parade Monday evening in Mount Vernon. This holiday marks the third time the band has appeared in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. The band treated the community to a preview Monday night of its Chicago performance. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Former Mount Vernon High School Marching Mustangs band director Don Stine applauds Monday night as the 2021-2022 band performs outside his home in Mount Vernon. The band, which has been invited back to participate in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, stopped at Stine’s house during a preview performance it gave before leaving Tuesday morning for Chicago. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon High School marching band drum major Dylan Winkler (left), a junior, and sophomore Mollie Snedden are lit by the flashing lights of a Mount Vernon police vehicle as they lead the color guard and the Marching Mustangs during a preview parade Monday evening in Mount Vernon. This year marks the band's third appearance in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon High School Marching Mustangs freshman color guard member Meg Dye performs Monday during a preview parade in Mount Vernon. The band left Tuesday morning to represent Iowa in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

MOUNT VERNON — Before they left to again represent Iowa in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Marching Mustangs of Mount Vernon High had one special stop to make: to perform outside the home of retired band director Don Stine, who led the band throughout the 1970s and into the 1990s.

This marks the third time the Mount Vernon band has performed in the Chicago parade, which is televised over WGN America to an estimated 10 million homes. The Marching Mustangs performed there in 2016 and again in 2018, and was invited back this holiday.

“That does not happen unless we have displayed a certain level of excellence when performing in the parade in the past,” Mount Vernon Superintendent Greg Batenhorst said. “This group has excelled in marching band competitions and performances throughout Eastern Iowa, and the parade is a great reward for all their hard work.”

The 96-member band of ninth- through 12-graders gave a community preview Monday evening of the performance planned for Chicago. The preview included a stop outside the home of Stine, the legendary band leader for the school and for the community.

The band left Tuesday morning for Chicago. The parade is from 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday along State Street in Chicago and will be broadcast live on WGN America.