McCallie’s Tornado Winds pep band has landed in the United Kingdom and will be bringing in the new year Sunday morning as part of the 31st New Year’s Day Parade and Festival in London.
The Tornado Winds flew to England earlier this week to see some of the sights in London and prepare for their performance Sunday morning under the direction of McCallie’s Director of Instrumental Music Brent Alverson.
In March, former Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster Duncan Sandys visited McCallie’s campus to formally invite the Tornado Winds to participate in this international event.
“This is a once in a lifetime experience; you will be surrounded by history and culture throughout your stay in London,” Mr.
Sandys said to the band during his visit to Chattanooga. “This is something you all will carry with you all the days of your lives.”
The Tornado Winds will be among more than 8,000 performers from throughout the world performing for about 500,000 live spectators on the 2.2-mile parade route, with many more viewing remotely.
For those unable to make the trip to London to see Tornado Winds perform in person, the event will be streamed live on the parade website at
www.lnydp.com. Live coverage of the parade will begin at 7 a.m. on New Year’s Day and will run through 10:30 a.m.
If you miss seeing the parade live, cable/satellite network RFD-TV will show LNYDP 2017 on Monday, Jan. 2, from 7-10:30 a.m. before the network’s Tournament of Roses Parade coverage. Several cable and satellite systems carry RFD-TV. Check
www.rfdtv.com for details about how to find RFD-TV in your area.