Mater Dei Marching Wildcats perform at AES 500 Festival Parade

Inclement weather forced Mater Dei High School’s Marching Wildcats to rehearse in the gymnasium May 23, which was their final rehearsal before traveling to Indianapolis. The Marching Wildcats were invited to perform at the 2024 AES 500 Festival Parade May 25 in Indianapolis. The AES 500 Festival Parade ranks among the nation’s most prominent parades, receiving national recognition amongst the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Organizers boast that more than 200,000 spectators lined the streets of downtown Indianapolis to witness the extravagant floats, enormous helium balloons, renowned figures, esteemed guests, top-notch bands and all 33 Indy 500 drivers. Band Director Allison Fields is pictured, wearing black, with some of the Marching Wildcats during their May 23 rehearsal. Look for more coverage of the Marching Wildcats’ performance in a future issue of The Message. The Message photo by Megan Erbacher