Lake Zurich band students still trying to get home
More than 75 Lake Zurich High School band members trying to get home from a performance in Madrid, Spain are now well past the halfway mark in their quest.
Lake Zurich Unit District 95 spokeswoman Jean Malek said the group flew out of Madrid on Tuesday morning, but only made it as far as John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Malek said the 77 band members and chaperones had planned to spend Tuesday night in New York and are expected make their connection for a flight to O'Hare International Airport Wednesday.
One group of band members landed at O'Hare as originally planned Monday afternoon. But a second group's flight on a different airline was canceled Monday because of the weather.
Lake Zurich's marching band played before an estimated 2 million or so spectators in central Madrid on Sunday for the eve of the Epiphany. The Cabalgata de Reyes, or Three Kings Parade, has animals and extravagant floats as part of the entertainment.
Sunday's parade ended in late evening with the arrival of the Three Kings on the last float to reach Plaza de la Cibeles. Monday was a national holiday in Spain.
In a blog, band director Jason Thompson wrote the remaining traveling party was put up Monday night at the 869-room Auditorium Madrid Hotel. American Airlines was supposed to pay the expenses.
District 95 schools are scheduled to reopen Wednesday.