Tampa Bay Thunder to March in July 4 Parade

The is going to rumble this year.

With about 100 members, the Tampa Bay Thunder Drum and Bugle Corps will likely be heard by those who line the streets of the parade route long before they are seen.

Tampa Bay Thunder is made up of members from all over Florida, most of whom have recently graduated high school, according to Jim Newman, executive director.

“It’s like a college band on steroids,” he explained.

This is the first year the group is participating in the Temple Terrace parade.

“We want to be able to give back to the community as much as possible,” Newman said.

Members pay an annual tuition of $550, but the cost of each member is about $1,700, he explained. The group makes up the difference by soliciting donations.

Tampa Bay Thunder caters to musicians who can compete at a high level but can't afford to commit the entire summer or spend thousands of dollars with a full touring corps. Formed two years ago, it is already ranked as the 10th best corps in the world, Newman said.

“We do a lot of camps at the Florida State Fairgrounds,” he said, so it made sense to perform in a parade that was close by and become more acquainted with the Temple Terrace community.

“We have fun with parades,” Newman said. “Our kids just like to perform.”

The Temple Terrace Independence Day parade begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Whiteway Drive and Gillette Avenue. The parade will head south on Gillette, west on Druid Hills, then south on Ridgedale Road to the Ridgedale Sports Complex near Temple Terrace Elementary School.

Evening festivities will begin at 7 p.m. outside the . There will be music, food vendors and a performance by . Fireworks will light up the sky at 9:15 p.m. and can be viewed from the first fairway of the Temple Terrace golf course, between Belle Terre and Woodmont avenues.

The Independence Day celebration is sponsored by the  with support from the City of Temple Terrace.

July 4 T-shirts are available at the chamber office for $10. Sizes run from small to double extra large and quantities are limited

For more information, call the chamber at 813-989-7004.

See also:
Temple Terrace July 4 Parade in Photos (from 2011)
Temple Terrace July 4 Fireworks in Photos (from 2011)