Official Trip Logo
PARADE SUMMER REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Tue, June 9, 1:00-2:30p
Tue, June 16, 1:00-2:30p
Tue, June 23, 1:00-2:30p
Sat, June 27, 9a-12p (Rehearsal 9-11:30a + Trip Meeting 11:30a-12p)
UPDATES
A packing list will be shared approx 2 weeks prior to the trip departure date.
Hydration & Endurance: please continue to build physical stamina and hydrate regularly to prepare for a 2.5-mile parade performance in summer heat conditions.
All student accounts must be paid in full prior to the trip departure date.
Map of Philadelphia July 3 Parade Map
REQUIRED FORMS
FRIENDS & FaMily
PERFORMANCES
July 2 - STANDING CONCERT: Philadelphia - JFK / Love Park - Approx 1pm.
July 3 - PARADE: Philadelphia - “Salute to Independence: 250 Years In The Making” USA Semiquincentennial Parade.
The largest professionally-produced parade of its kind in the United States.
2.4 miles (see map image above)
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Philadelphia NBC Channel 10 [LIVE local TV broadcast & Youtube LIVE stream]
Cable/Satellite: C=SPAN [LIVE & rebroadcasts thereafter]
Various Streaming Services: Roku, Peacock, Samsung TV, Google TV, TCL, Prime Video, Amazon Fire TV, Fubo TV, LG TV, Flex, Pluto TV
OTHER INFORMATION
All Transportation, Lodging, and Meals included in trip price
TRANSPORTATION: Overland Charter motor coaches
LODGING: hotel accommodations in Arlington, VA, Wilmington, DE, & Niagara Falls, NY
MEALS: various catered and restaurant food services
TRIP PRICE
TOTAL: $2,500
PAYMENTS
$100 deposit due July 1, 2025
Ten monthly payments of $240 each, due on: Aug 15, Sept 15, Oct 15, Nov 15, Dec 15, Jan 15, Feb 15, Mar 15, Apr 15, & May 15
Drop / Refund Policy
Union Bands & UBPC has partnered with Students on Broadway for the travel arrangements and accommodations for the 2026 East Coast Adventure Trip. UBPC makes periodic payments to Students on Broadway to allow for the timely booking of buses, hotels, and other accommodations. In order to ensure that the payments to Students on Broadway are made in a timely manner, UBPC must establish strict deadlines to ensure that trip fees are paid on time each month. If a registered member of the travel party is not current on trip fees by the dates outlined below, UBPC reserves the right to drop that individual from the travel party, and any payments made up to that date will be non-refundable.
September 15, 2025
November 15, 2025
January 15, 2026
March 15, 2026
May 15, 2026
STUDENT Packing List
REQUIRED: PHOTO IDENTIFICATION
Photo ID (school ID or driver’s license/other government issued ID)
GENERAL CLOTHING – (School Dress Code Applies)
Bus / Travel Wear (for 2 overnights on the bus: OUTBOUND JUNE 29, RETURN JULY 6)
Sweatpants/Shorts, Sweatshirt/Hoodie, etc + change of Undergarments
Slides / crocs / birks / flip-flops, etc.
Small bag (or put in backpack) for
Day #2: change of clothes+undergarments for following Day #1 overnight trip
Day #6: change of dry clothes+undergarments for following Day #8 Niagara Falls, prior to overnight trip home Day #9
Comfortable, lightweight wear (for 7 days of sightseeing)
shorts or pants
shirts / tops
undergarments: socks & underwear
Hat
Comfortable walking shoes (consider 2 pair for swapping out to avoid sore feet or if one pair gets wet)
Beach / Swim / Water Wear (waterpark & beach on July 4 + Niagara Falls boat & mist on July 6)
bathing suit(s)
appropriate cover (shorts / t-shirt, etc) between the water & the bus
beach towel
water-minded footwear: slides / crocs / birks / sandals / flip-flops, etc
SUNCREEN (it’s not a clothing article but is critical/mandatory)
bag: beach bag, duffle, tote, or backpack to carry all items listed above
Sleep attire (for 6 nights in hotel)
Special Dinner Attire (for evening of July 3)
Ladies
summertime dresses or other lightweight attire (pants, shorts) + shirt/blouse/etc.
Gents
polo or other collared shirt
shorts or jeans or pants (no athletic shorts)
no sweatpants
Trip T-Shirt (East Coast Adventure theme shirt)
PERFORMANCE ATTIRE
Guard
For Standing Concert
red Union Guard shirt
black athletic shorts
black jazz shoes
For Parade
Uniform garment
black jazz shoes
cowboy hat
Winds / Percussion
For Standing Concert
Black Union Band shirt + Red Shorts
Sneakers
For Parade
tank-top compressions undershirt (black-color)
sliders compression shorts
long black socks
IN UNIFORM ZIPPER BAG:
Marching shoes
All standard uniform pieces
PERSONAL GROOMING/ HYGIENE/HEALTH-CARE
Quantities / amounts adequate for 9 days of travel:
Toothbrush + toothpaste
Deodorant
Shampoo / conditioner + body wash
Comb / brush + any hair care products
Skin care products + any makeup / cosmetics
Any other personal hygiene items
Eyes: Contact Care / Glasses / Sunglasses, etc
MEDICATION
Prescription Meds will be handled by the assigned chaperone as necessary
OTC Meds can only be given to a student under these circumstances:
Med Treatment Authorization form is checked for permission AND UBPC Exec or Staff Member give approval
Parent Permission given directly to the chaperone
CONSIDER BRINGING
Backpack (not permitted in Wash DC government buildings)
Book
Phone & charger cord, adapter plug, portable charger
Headphones / Earbuds
Money for snacks and / or souvenirs (all meals are provided)
Compact umbrella
***Valuables are brought only at risk of owner. LABEL EVERYTHING WITH YOUR NAME.***
MUSIC-RELATED
Instrument
Extra reeds, valve oil, etc.
Drum sticks/mallets
ON THE BUS
Pillow/Blanket (single person use only)
Snacks – allowed, but all drinks must be in a sealable/closeable container. For the sake of caution for our friends with allergies, PLEASE DO NOT BRING SNACKS CONTAINING NUTS, PEANUTS OR ITEMS WITH PEANUT BUTTER. Please cleanup after yourself.
DVDs – G, PG, PG-13 ratings only and director approval to watch is required
Electronics – cell phone, charger, iPods, iPads, PSPs, etc. (allowed but you are responsible for any damage/theft)
Sling Bag / duffle to be placed in the bus cabin overhead: pack a change of clothes for Tuesday morning Jun 30. This bag will remain in the cabin of the bus, not in the luggage bays.
RECOMMEND: small plastic bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant. For use on Tuesday morning Jun 30 arrival & Tuesday morning July 7
TECHNOLOGY / COMMUNICATION FOR YOUR PHONE
‘Band’ App | used for full group, bus, and chaperone communications
⚠️ DO-NOT-BRING
Gaming Consoles for Hotel Room
DVD/Media Players for Hotel Room
Pets
Alcohol
Drugs including Cannabis or CBD productions
Prescription medications are allowed.
Non-School Appropriate Clothing
Tobacco Products, including vapor devices
Weapons
*** Breaking rules may result in being sent home at student’s expense, expulsion from school and/or removal from band/guard program.***
TRIP ITINERARY
Updated 6/17/26
Saturday, June 27 -Rehearsal 9-11:30a + Trip Meeting 11:30a-12p
Monday, June 29
7:00am Building Unlocked
7:45am Call Time at Union HS. Load buses
Use Restroom
Load instrument
8:30am Depart Tulsa
11:45am - Lunch - Buccee’s - Springfield, MO ($15 cash distribution)
8:00pm Dinner Stop - Golden Corral (GoCo) - Terre Haute, IN
Tuesday, June 30
8:30am Breakfast Stop - Chick-Fil-A or McDonald’s - Sterling, VA ($15 cash distribution) - [EASTERN TIME ZONE +1 HR]
9:30am Depart Breakfast location
10:00am Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly VA → Self-Guided Tour
Lunch at Museum’s Shake Shack
$20 cash distribution
12:45pm Depart Smithsonian
1:30pm Arrive Arlington National Cemetery: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier / Changing of the Guard
3:30pm Depart Arlington National Cemetery
National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial (time-permitting)
4:30pm Hotel Check-in @ Hilton Garden Inn Reagan National Airport
6:30pm Depart to Dinner
7-8:15pm Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe, DC
8:30pm “Moonlight Monumenting”
Visit Lincoln Memorial, MLK Jr. Memorial, FDR Memorial
10:45pm Return to hotel
TBA Lights-out
Wednesday, July 1
6:15-7:45am Breakfast Buffet at hotel
Hotel Check-out, baggage to buses
8:15am Depart for touring
Walking Tour
Exterior Visits
White House
Supreme Court
Library of Congress
Lunch at US Capitol Cafe
$ Voucher Provided
2:10pm US Capitol Building Guided Tour
Lunch at Capitol Cafe
$ Voucher Provided
4:15pm Depart on buses to Maryland
5:45pm Dinner @ University of Maryland College Park Dining Hall
7:30pm Depart on buses for Wilmington, DE (Approx. 2.25hrs)
10:00pm Check-in @ DoubleTree by Hilton Wilmington
TBA Lights-out
Thursday, July 2
7-8:30am Breakfast Buffet at hotel
9:30am Board buses and depart for Philadelphia (Approx. 45mins)
10:15am Touring
Walking Guided Tour
Liberty Bell
Independence Hall
Betsy Ross House
U.S. Mint (exterior)
Time TBA: Lunch at Reading Terminal Market: $20 cash provided
1:00pm Standing Concert at JFK / Love Park
instrument & member gear logistics TBA
Touring Time apprx 2:30pm: “Rocky Steps” at Philadelphia Museum of Art
5:00pm Board buses, bound for Wilmington Hotel
6:00pm Clean up for dinner
7:00pm Dinner at hotel: Fiesta Fajita Buffet
TBA Lights-out
Friday, July 3
7:00-8:30am Breakfast Buffet at hotel
9:30am Depart for Philadelphia for Parade
10:45am Arrive Parade Staging Area
11:30am Boxed Lunch served (Philly Cheesetakes)
12:30pm Warm-Up and Line Up
1:30-2:00pm Step Off for Semiquincentennial Celebration Parade
Element #175
TBApm Post-parade. Dress out of uniform, board buses and depart for Hotel
TBApm Arrive hotel, change for dinner
Lunch (Box/Stipend/restaurant) location TBA
6:00pm Board buses for dinner, depart
6:30-9:30pm Sunset Barbeque & DJ: Celebration Dinner at Riverfront Events Chase Center
6:30-9:30pm Iced Tea, Lemonade, water, etc. available throughout
6:30-8:15pm Sunset barbeque buffet: Salad, Burgers, Grilled Chicken, Mashed Potatoes
7:30-8:30pm Ice Cream Sundae Buffet
9:45pm Board buses to hotel
TBA Lights out
Saturday, July 4
7-8:30am Breakfast Buffet at hotel
9:00am Depart for Ocean City, MD (Approx. 3hrs)
Enroute stop at Miles the Monster Statue at Dover Motor Speedway
12:30pm Arrive Maryland
Catered Lunch at Splash Mountain Pavilion
Jolly Roger Splash & Ride Park
Splash Mountain Waterpark (10:00am-6:00pm)
Amusement Rides (2:00pm-6:00pm)
One round of Mini Golf at Treasure Golf (till 6:00pm)
Catered Lunch at Splash Mountain Pavilion
Beach Time on the Atlantic - 31st Street Beach Entrance
6:15pm Board buses and depart for Ocean City Pier
cean City Jolly Roger at the Pier
Explore Boardwalk
Dinner on Boardwalk: $25 provided for Dinner
Jolly Roger Rides at Pier (Unlimited rides bracelet ) [7-10pm or when fireworks end]
9:30pm View July 4th Fireworks from the Pier/Boardwalk
10:00pm Depart for hotel
1:00am Arrive Hotel / Lights-out
Sunday, July 5
7:45-8:45am Breakfast Buffet at hotel
9:00am Hotel check-out, Baggage to OVERLAND bus
9:15am Board EXECUTIVE buses & depart for NYC (Approx. 2.5hrs)
11:45am Arrive NYC. Brief tour National 9/11 Memorial at World Trade Center
12:30pm Board bus bound for Bryant Park
12:45pm Pizza Picnic Lunch at Bryant Park
1:45pm Walk to Times Square (photos)
2:30pm (3:00pm Curtain) Broadway Matinee @ Jacobs Theatre: ‘THE OUTSIDERS’
5:30pm Walking to buses
6:00pm Board buses, Boxed Dinner served, Depart for Niagara Falls, NY (Approx. 8hrs)
1:00am Hotel Check-In @ Holiday Inn Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls Illuminated (Until 2AM) (Time Permitting)
Monday, July 6
9-10:30am Breakfast Buffet at hotel (voucher)
10:45am Hotel Check-out, baggage to Bartlett Room
11:00am Walk to Niagara State Park
11:45am Sail on the Maid of the Mist (ponchos provided)
Lunch on Old Falls Street ($ card provided)
2:40pm Visit Cave of the Winds (ponchos provided)
Free time to shop or explore
5:30pm Return to hotel, change clothes
6:30pm Load baggage onto buses and depart to dinner
7:00pm Farewell Dinner Buffet at Crown Plaza Hotel
8:45pm Depart for Tulsa
Tuesday, July 7
7:00am - Breakfast stop - Cracker Barrell - Terre Haute, IN
12:30pm - Lunch stop - Buccee’s - Springfield, MO ($15 cash distribution) - (Central Time Zone -1 hour)
6:30pm Approximate arrival Union HS, Tulsa OK