GRAND ISLAND — The 81st Harvest of Harmony Parade, sponsored by Century 21 Realty, will be held this Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Nebraska’s largest parade attracts more than 200 entries from a combination of marching bands and floats from all over the state.
The first parade entry is scheduled to step-off at 8:15 a.m. Attendees can look forward to a wide variety of floats and bands throughout the morning, including 94 marching bands and 104 total floats. Twenty-four of the bands will also perform at the Field Competition. Joining the parade again this year is the University of Nebraska Kearney Pride of the Plains Marching Band. The pride will also perform an exhibition show at the field competition later that afternoon.
A new addition to the 81st Harvest of Harmony is the inclusion of student representatives. Marching bands had the opportunity to select a senior in their school’s fine arts program to ride in a convertible ahead of their band. This year’s parade will feature 14 student representatives.
Each year, the parade has a specific theme. The theme for the 81st Harvest of Harmony Parade is “Celebration of Sound”, which pays homage to the parade’s core – the music. Participants and spectators alike are encouraged to join in honoring the theme: an appreciation of the evolution of music, whether it be an incorporation of classical, jazz, country, rock, pop, or a fusion of musical genres.
This year’s parade will be led by Grand Marshal Diane Miller, whose career started in education. She taught in seven different schools in the Central Nebraska area, while spending many of her summers working with Grand Island Parks & Recreation as a lifeguard and water safety instructor.
Miller later transitioned from working in the classroom to the role of Facility Manager for Grand Island’s Island Oasis when it opened in 1993. She remained in that position for 30 years and retired in 2022, but not before earning the title of ‘Waterpark Queen’ from her coworkers. In addition, Miller was on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters for several years and taught in Youth Leadership Tomorrow.
The Harvest of Harmony Committee chose Miller as the Grand Marshal because of her lifelong involvement in teaching and working with children in Central Nebraska.
Following the parade, the fun continues Saturday afternoon with the Harvest of Harmony Field Competition, sponsored by Big Red Treats, taking place at Grand Island Senior High’s Memorial Stadium.
The first field performance is set to start at 10 a.m. Gate admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and there is no admission charge for children ages six and under.
The order of march, stadium schedule, and more information about this weekend’s events can be found on the Harvest of Harmony website.
About the Harvest of Harmony
Harvest of Harmony’s roots go back to 1938 when Chamber of Commerce members decided to organize an event to promote goodwill among the area small towns. That first parade was a rousing success with 8 bands and 13 floats in which estimates of 10,000 people watched from the streets. Just as Harvest of Harmony was getting off the ground, World War II began and ceased the parade for a few years in 1942, due to gas rationing. Once the war ended, Harvest of Harmony resumed in 1946. Over the years, Harvest of Harmony has grown into one of Nebraska’s largest marching band competitions bringing an estimated 13,000 spectators to the streets of Grand Island every first Saturday in October.
About the Grand Island Chamber
The Grand Island Chamber, in partnership with over 700 members, creates a formidable alliance when dealing with issues on the local, regional and statewide level. Issues that affect how we do business—how we participate in a global economy—and how we plan for the future. By becoming a partner with the Grand Island Chamber, the business community can speak with one voice on each level to ensure continued prosperity. For more information, call 308-382-9210 or go to gichamber.com.
