IUP Brought Holiday disaster after not attending ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

IUP explains to the people why there weren’t in attendance

By Rebecca George

INDIANA, Pa., Nov. 10, 2023 — IUP marching band didn’t show any holiday cheer Nov. 17 as they
weren’t in attendance for the parade.

Each year Indiana, Pa hosts a ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ to commence the holiday season. The event starts
with a parade and usually IUP marching band is the first organization in the parade. This year they
dropped out at the last minute and left the people at The Lucy Donnelly Memorial Fund to find a
solution and let the people watching the parade down.

The Lucy Donnelly Memorial Fund president, who created the fund, said, “I’m very upset with the fact
IUP marching band drop out at the last minute and having us change the position of everyone in the
parade.”

IUP Marching Band Director Zach Cheever, who has been the band director for one year, said, “Due to
the fact we had a chance to go to a last-minute show, we took the chance. I let the marching band
students vote and voted on the show. We loved performing in the parade every year, but we also love
performing are show.”

Long time Indiana resident Susan Bernd, who has been attending for eighteen years now, said, “I’ve
been taking my kids to the parade since they were little, it’s unfortunate IUP decided to drop out last
minute. We love listening to their holiday music they learn for the parade.

Director Cheever said he and his band will be attending the next if they are invited and is sorry for all the
problems, they caused this holiday season.