On Saturday, Sept. 6, McLean’s marching band conducted their Tag Day fundraiser. The event, one of the largest held by marching band throughout the year, funds a substantial portion of the annual budget.
“[Tag Day] helps provide a lot of funds for things such as instruments, uniforms and salaries for marching band staff,” senior Evie Davison said. “During our spring trip, it’s also used where we need to cover hotels, buses and food for all of the band program.”
Throughout the day, band members mainly visited households, but marching band also held fundraising performances in front of businesses. These locations included the CVS and Starbucks on Chain Bridge Rd.
“We had six storefront locations throughout downtown McLean and probably around 10,000-15,000 houses were visited,” Davison said.
Marching band has been planning Tag Day since June. The planning process is supported throughout by the Band Parents Association and band directors. In total, about 300 people are involved in Tag Day each year.
“The directors and Band Parents Organization are really the driving force behind the program,” senior Hayden Schweikert said. “We couldn’t do half the things we are able to do without the hard work they put in.”
For Tag Day, band parents were also responsible for transportation and supervising students at the various locations in downtown McLean.
“All the band parents that chaperoned had to drive around all the neighborhoods, so they played a very big role,” freshman Luke Lutton said. “The parents in our group went to around 200 houses with us.”
Each year, Tag Day also represents an opportunity for marching band to connect with the local community, raising visibility and forming connections.
“A lot of the people in the McLean community really enjoy Tag Day, and they are always ready to donate when we come by,” Davison said. “I was at a storefront, and we saw a lot of people who were excited to hear us play and wanted to ask us questions about our experiences in band.”
This enthusiasm from the community not only creates a supportive environment, but also reflects the band’s significant role with McLean.
“I think this event speaks volumes to how the band has impacted McLean as a community,” Schweikert said. “It also shows how our program can come together to meet our goals to support us through the year.”
