Ridgewood School Band Will March In America's 250th Birthday Parade In This City

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Strike up the band!

The Ridgewood High School Marching Band was just selected for a "once-in-a-lifetime honor," the district announced Wednesday — they will perform in the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade in Philadelphia on July 3.

The landmark event, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, is set to be the largest professionally produced semiquincentennial celebration parade in the nation, school officials said.

The Ridgewood High School Marching Band will be one of only 50 marching bands chosen from around the world to participate.

The parade will feature 250 distinct elements representing all 50 states and U.S. territories, including military units, historical elements, and all 52 Miss America titleholders.

"This is an incredible honor and a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students," said John Luckenbill, marching band director at Ridgewood High School. "To march through the very streets where our nation's independence was born 250 years ago is a memory these students will carry with them forever. It is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent of our young musicians."

The parade begins at 11 a.m. on July 3, along an expanded historic route.

The procession will start at Fifth and Chestnut streets, pass directly in front of Independence Hall, continue down Market Street, circle City Hall, and travel along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Logan Circle.

The Ridgewood community is invited to support the band as they prepare for this prestigious national stage, organizers said. Participation in an event of this scale involves significant logistics and preparation, and the band will share the journey with the local community.

For more information about the Salute to Independence Parade, visit july4thphilly.com