Marching band lands two prize gigs

The award-winning Lake Zurich High School Marching Band will precede Santa Claus as he makes his way down State Street in downtown Chicago as part of the McDonald's Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.

The parade will be broadcast live nationally on WGN-TV from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday.

The LZHS Marching Band will also march in the New Year's Day Parade in London, England.

"What a great thing to be chosen to lead Santa into Chicago," LZHS Band Director Josh Thompson said. "These kids are putting a lot of time into band these days, and having this place of honor in the parade is getting these kids even more psyched for the world stage at New Year's in London."

For more information, visit http://www.chicagofestivals.org/paradeInfo.htm.