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St. Pete’s Second Time Arounders to march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For a second time.

The greater St. Petersburg area “alumni” band makes its second appearance in the one of the world’s largest and most-watched parades.
 
The greater St. Petersburg area Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band practice for their second appearance in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City since 2008.
The greater St. Petersburg area Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band practice for their second appearance in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City since 2008. [ MONIQUE WELCH | Times ]
Published Nov. 25, 2019

ST. PETERSBURG — When it formed in 1982, the band called itself the Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band.

Its hundreds of adult members previously belonged to high school, college or military marching bands and wanted a second chance at the experience.

Now, for the first time, the band is truly living up to its name.

The Second Time Arounders were invited to return to play the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, one of the world’s largest and most-watched parades. The band first marched in the parade in 2008.

The Second Time Arounders were one of nine bands selected from the total 120 that applied.

“It’s a pretty exciting thing for us,” band director Bill Findeison said. “There’s no assurance that we get invited to the parade.”

Findeison believes it was the band’s uniqueness that made it stand out. It is one of the largest bands in the parade with 450 members, including majorettes, a flag line, twirlers and musicians ranging between 20-80 years old.

“It’s a very unique and novel idea when you have people like us that are doing this again and have fun doing it,” Findeison said. "If you walk down the line and look at their faces before the performance, they’re in their 50s, 60s and 70s, but they look like high schoolers all over again.

"People see themselves in us, we’re smiling, having a good time and we’re pretty doggone good. ”

For nearly half of the band, it’s their first time attending the parade — let alone participating in it.

“I can’t wait,” said Teresa James, who joined two seasons ago and drives from Ocala to St. Petersburg just for practices. “I’ve been in the honor guard for 20 years, so when I heard about it on Facebook I had to join.”

Veteran band members are excited to return after 11 years, this time with some experience under their belt.

For the native Floridians, it was their first time performing in much colder temperatures. Others found it difficult to adjust to the late nights and early mornings.

The bands typically practice from 6-9 p.m. the night before Thanksgiving. Members then have to awaken at 1 a.m. so they can be at Central Park by 3, when the camera crew prepares its shots.

Afterward, the bands eat breakfast at Planet Hollywood at 5 a.m. At 6:15, they return to Times Square to prepare for the 2.25-mile trek from Central Park to Macy’s Herald Square, beginning at 9.

“I remember being tired,” said longtime band member and mellophonist Rob Romeyn. "Maybe we didn’t know what we were getting into the first time.”

This time around, he thinks they are better prepared for the long day.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and his family will attend the parade. Kriseman’s children, Jordan and Samuel, will march with the Second Time Arounders, holding the Florida state banner. The Krisemans will join the Second Time Arounders later that evening for Thanksgiving dinner.

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If you plan to watch, look for the Second Time Arounders decked out in red, white and blue marching in the fifth band position. Listen for two songs, On Broadway, the 1964 classic by the Drifters; and Enchano, a Latin tune.