With three trucks making their way west with the bulk of WCU Pride of the Mountains Marching Band members’ luggage, there isn’t as much to pack before the first wave of band students fly out of Charlotte, Atlanta and Raleigh to California on Tuesday, Dec. 28, but there are some critical “don’t forget” items listed regarding packing and travel in the student packets.

  • Students are reminded to wear their matching tracksuits (with shorts underneath for (hopefully) sunny California) and band member shirts on the flights. (One of the band directors joked at the final meeting that the nearly 400 member band might look to others at the airport like the world’s largest basketball team en route to a game.)
  • The packet reminds students to bring ID, cell phone, cell phone charger, money and liquids such as toothpaste, mouth wash and valve oil in 3.4 ounce or less sized containers.
  • The information sheets remind students what they cannot bring on the plane, including pocket knives, knitting needles, scissors and snow globes.  More information is posted on the TSA website.
  • Students are reminded to bring their instruments and/or mouthpieces if they took them home. (Instruments, of course, will be a critical part of the Tournament of Roses Bandfest performance on Dec. 30, which can be seen via an $8.50 webcast, and the Jan. 1 Rose Parade, although the band has practiced singing their parts at rehearsals where it was too cold to play…)

For students who are driving to the WCU campus before traveling as a group to the Atlanta airport, an update will be posted at https://roseparade.wcu.edu regarding road conditions around campus. The campus received about 4 to 5 inches of snow starting on Saturday, Dec. 25, and could receive more snow overnight Dec. 26. The facilities grounds crew, campus police and dispatch and electric resale staff have been working throughout the inclement weather. Road conditions currently vary widely in the region. Parents and band members are advised to check road conditions using the N.C. Department of Transportation website or dialing 511 from a cell phone.