Sanford High School’s band has been selected to represent the state of Maine in the “Semiquincentennial Salute to America” Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia on July 4th, 2026.
This parade is scheduled to mark America’s 250th Birthday Celebration right where our nation began in Philly. Sanford’s band was handpicked by the parade producer to represent Maine as he compiles a band from every state in the nation.
The Sanford High School band has a history of performing in big parades, such as the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Parade in Washington DC for President Obama’s Inauguration and the 2007 St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City.
The students will have the opportunity to represent Sanford while exploring the history of the United States. They will visit Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, The Museum of the American Revolution, and much more.
Leading up to 2026, the band will be fundraising to try and lower the cost of the trip. For anyone interested in helping with fundraisers or donating, they can contact Sanford Music Boosters at shsmusicboosters@gmail.com.
“This is a tremendous honor for us to be able to bring Sanford to a National Stage for a once in a lifetime parade, and we are so excited for the opportunity,” SHS Band Director Hailey Francouer said.
Sanford High School is the only band representing Maine in this parade. Incoming 9th-12th grade students in the year 2026 will be eligible for this trip.
Sanford High School’s Band has had an extremely successful year. They won the gold after a great performance at the Maine Band Directors’ Association’s annual state finals in Biddeford (read about it here).