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Cheerleaders travel to Macy's Parade

By Maridee Lawson

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Seven Farmington High School senior cheerleaders will be traveling to New York City for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year.

The cheerleaders have been involved in the parade since 1995 and they participate in fundraisers in order to help with the costs of attending. It is $2,000 per cheerleader to attend.

One of the big fundraisers they hold each year to help is the Holiday Home Tour. Their are five homes on this years tour. The list includes the homes of Mr. and Mrs. John Young at 175 Butterfield Drive; Angie Bannister Hahn at 507 Center Street; Rodney and De’Shea McBride at 452 Redwood Drive; Mr. and Mrs. Ron Strauser at 223 Buzzard Rock Road; and The Dogwood Cottage at 160 Butterfield Drive.

All homes will be decorated for Christmas, and cheerleaders will be stationed at some homes helping with the guided tours.

“Angie Hahn has notes by her antiques that give a history of them as well as if they are a family heirloom or where they came from,” said Dr. Connie Waters, the Cheerleading sponsor.

The cheerleaders will be in New York City for six days beginning the Friday before until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. They will practice for five hours each day working on cheers and a dance that will be performed in front of Macy’s.

 The parade begins at Central Park and will continue five miles until it reaches Macy’s. The cheerleaders will begin lining up at 4 a.m.

The girls will spend a half day shopping inside Macy’s, and will go to the Broadway play “In the Heights.” They will also visit the Empire State Building as well as the Radio City Music Hall.

The Farmington High School cheerleaders is the longest consecutive group attending the parade. They are invited every year but some years it depends on how many cheerleaders are juniors and seniors on the squad, which determines if they actually attend the parade.

Tickets for the home tour can be purchased from any cheerleader, First State Community Bank (main bank downtown), Le Salon Cheveu, MAC Bookstore or the Farmington High School front office.

Tickets are $10 for the tour Nov. 16 from 2-5 p.m.