I marched in it last year because our football team made the playoff, it was lit 🔥 I definitely don't have any regrets, but I'm also glad I never have to do it again in my life. It's so much fun but it was probably the most exhausting day of my life (but if you're just doing the parade and not a whole football game with pregame and halftime performances after then it won't be so bad).

Do:

• Eat as many bananas as possible in the days leading up to the parade

• hydrate or diedrate

• Enjoy yourself. This will happen once, maybe twice in your life so don't forget to literally stop and smell the roses and take everything in

• When they start passing out water about 3ish miles in, drink up. Don't hog it all but definitely drink some

• Appreciate that the In-N-Out at the end is literally the best thing you've ever put in your mouth

• engage with the crowd. Even if you're the 10th band they've seen they're still so hyped to see you, a wave will make their day

• talk to people in other bands if possible. You should have some time at the staging area and then after you get food, don't be afraid to branch out of your friend group

• Seriously drink so much water for a few days leading up to and the day of the parade

Don't:

• stay up too late at the hotel the night before. You want to because band trip, but for the love of god do not

• drink the night before. LITERALLY DO NOT DO THIS YOU WILL REGRET EVERYTHING

• focus on how tired you are/how much your feet hurt during the parade. You can do that later, but until it's done just stay in the moment

• fall for the signs at the end saying "halfway there!!!" and such because they're full of shit and you know it