BELLEFONTE — As America celebrates its 250th birthday this year, the Bellefonte Community Band is looking back on America’s Bicentennial in 1976 and the members of the Bellefonte High School band who participated in parades in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
The band invites those who were part of the Bicentennial parades to join a concert on July 3 at 7 p.m. in Talleyrand Park as part of Bellefonte’s “America 250” celebration. Anyone who performed in the parades as a high school student and still has access to their musical instrument is welcome to join, regardless of current playing ability.
Bellefonte Community Band Director Meg Pedlow Smith said the band is excited to recognize community members who were part of the Bicentennial 50 years ago.
“This is a wonderful opportunity not only to commemorate America’s 250th, but to highlight a special part of Bellefonte’s history,” Smith said. That the Bellefonte High School band was selected to represent Pennsylvania on the national stage in 1976 was a real honor. We hope to relive some of those memories as well as contributing to a celebration in 2026 that younger generations will one day look back on.”
Bellefonte Community Band member Dave Cree directed the Bellefonte High School band in the Bicentennial parades, along with assistant director Joe Malafarina. He estimates that about 80 to 100 student musicians participated, along with about 40 band front members. He recalls the large crowds along the parade route in Philadelphia and the physically demanding experience in Washington. Cree will be conducting a piece in the July 3 concert.
“Both parades were quite the experience for us,” Cree said. “The Washington, D.C. parade was run by the military, and I remember they kept pushing us to march pretty fast and keep the group moving,” Cree said.
The Bellefonte Community Band’s July 3 concert will be in conjunction with the State College Area Municipal Band and will be the final event following a parade and Hometown Hero banner dedication. Historic Bellefonte Inc. and Downtown Bellefonte Inc. are coordinating the America 250 events.
Anyone interested in joining the July 3 performance should email the Bellefonte Community Band at bellefonteband@gmail.com.
