BUSY BEE BAND & HONEYBEES

Synopsis of Travel

Over the course of the last 50 years, the Busy Bee Band & Honeybees have become one of the most traveled school organizations in the State of West Virginia. This outlines some trips of interest:

Virginia Beach National Music Festival, June, 1972, which included competition in parade, field show, concert, audition, sight reading and dress inspection by a United States Navy Inspection Team. Rating 98%.
Two-Time Grand Prize Winners at the Marshall University Tri-State Band Festival in Huntington, WV at Fairfield Stadium in which the band was named "Outstanding Band of the Festival"
Thanksgiving performance in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1973 at the Carolinas' Carrousel Parade which involved field competition at the Coliseum and a regionally televised Thanksgiving Parade.
Two New York City visits, 1974 & 1975, the second a performance venture at Rockefeller Plaza to a S.R.O. crowd; immediately followed by a Command Street Performance at the Americana Hotel in downtown Manhattan.
Two performing visits to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. The spring of 1974 visit via Amtrak featured the Band parading down "Mainstreet U.S.A." followed by a Stand-up Show Concert in front of the Castle. May of 1976 found the Band traveling by Eastern Airlines L-1011 to perform in Walt Disney's "America on Parade," their Bicentennial salute.
1977 "Apple Blossom Festival" parade and "Stand-Up Show Concert" in Winchester, VA.
Opryland Band Festival in Nashville, TN., October 1977, which included field show competition and a "Stand-Up Show Concert" at the Rivergate Mall.
April 1977: Proclaimed the "Official Band of the Office of Secretary of State of West Virginia" at a Capitol ceremony by the Honorable A. James Manchin, Secretary of State of West Virginia, in Charleston.
First International Tour of Canada with performances at the Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto followed by a performance in Ottawa near the famous "Canal" for the International Spring Tulip Festival.
October 1978, September 1979, October 1980, November 1981, October 1983, September 1984, December 1985, seven pregame and half-time performances for the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers Football Organization.
May 1979 and June 1980: Two invitations and accepted performances at the Myrtle Beach "Sun Fun Festival" in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and followed by a performance at "Carowinds" in 1979.
May 1981: Performance at Walt Disney World-Orlando, FL.
September 1981: Halftime performance at R.F.K. Memorial Stadium; Washington Redskins vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
November 1981: Pre-game and halftime performance at River Front Stadium, Cincinatti, Ohio; Cincinnati Bengal vs. the Denver Broncos.
May 1982: Invitation for Performances at the International Music Festival in Toronto, Canada.
January 1983: AFC Playoff game halftime performance at Three Rivers Stadium; Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Diego Chargers.
May 1983: EPCOT - Walt Disney World.
May 1984: Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD
Pittsburgh Area Band Spectaculars: 1970 Wikinsburg; 1972 Bethel Park; 1973 East Allegheny; 1974 Ringgold; 1977 North Hills; 1983 Mt. Lebanon; 1982 and 1984 Montour.
May 1985: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
May 1986: Toronto, Canada with invitation to perform at Nathan Phillips Square.
May 1987: EPCOT - Walt Disney World.
November 1987: 1st Place Winner in Kaufmann's "Celebrate the Season" Christmas Parade.
May 1988: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
October 1988: 2nd Place Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade.
December 1988: 10th Annual Halftime Performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
January 1989: Representing the State of West Virginia, the Bicentennial Presidential Inaugural Parade, Washington, D.C., January 20, 1989.
May 1989: Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
October 1989: 1st Place Winner Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade.
October 1989: 11th Annual Halftime Performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
May 1990: Toronto, Canada with invitation to perform at Nathan Phillips Square.
December 1990: 12th Annual Performance Halftime Performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
May 1991: Walt Disney World Parade in the "Magic Kingdom", tour of Epcot Center and M.G.M. Studios.
December 1991: 13th Annual Halftime Performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
May 1992: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
November 1992: 14th Annual Halftime Performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
November 1992: Kaufmann's "Celebrate the Season" Christmas Parade.
May 1993: Washington, D.C., Floral Tributes at Arlington National Cemetery and at Iwo Jima Memorial.
October 1993: 15th Annual Halftime Performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
May 1994: Toronto, Canada with performances at Nathan Phillips Square, York Memorial School; attended performance of "Phantom of the Opera".
November 1994: Kaufmann's "Celebrate the Season" Christmas Parade.
December 1994: AFC Central game halftime performance at Three Rivers Stadium; Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns.
May 1995: Walt Disney World Parade down "Mainstreet U.S.A.", tour of Epcot Center and M.G.M. Studios.
November 1995: Honor Band for "Wheeling Festival of Lights Parade".
January 1996: AFC Title game halftime performance at Three Rivers Stadium; Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills.
May 1996: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
November 1996: 20th Annual Halftime Performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
May 1997: Walt Disney World Parade down "Mainstreet U.S.A." in the "SpectroMagic Parade", tour of Epcot Center and M.G.M. Studios.
September 1997: The Tiger Band Review in Massillon Ohio.
October 1997: 1st Place Winner Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade, Queen Bee Heather Shreves was named the Superior Drum Major of the parade.
May 1998: Toronto, Canada with performances at Nathan Phillips Square, York Memorial School; attended performance of "Phantom of the Opera".
January 1, 2000: Performance in the 111th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
January 2, 2000: Performance in Disneyland "Mainstreet U.S.A. Parade" in Anaheim, California.
January 20, 2001: Presidential Inaugural Parade of President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C.
April 2002: Walt Disney World Parade down "Mainstreet U.S.A." celebrating the 100th Birthday of Walt Disney.
May 2003: Atlanta, Georgia including a visit to the Coca-Cola Museum, the gravesite of Martin Luther King, Jr. and a command performance near the CNN Building.
December 29, 2003 - January 2, 2004: Travel to Jacksonville, Florida for performances in the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade and the 59th Annual Toyota Gator Bowl at Alltel Stadium which featured the West Virginia Mountaineer and Maryland Terrapins.
May 2004: Washington, D.C., Floral Tributes at Arlington National Cemetery and at Iwo Jima Memorial. Command performance at Iwo Jima Memorial and First Ever performance by a musical ensemble at the World War II Memorial.
January 17, 2005: Inaugural Parade for Governor Joe Manchin in Charleston, West Virginia.
May 2005: Eleventh performance for the Busy Bee Band & Honeybees on "Mainstreet U.S.A." in Disney World.
May 2006: Trip to New York City, including performance at Rockefeller Center and the flight deck of the U.S.S. Intrepid. The group also attended the Broadway music "The Lion King" and visited the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero and Times Square.
April 2007: Trip to Norfolk, Virginia, which included a performance aboard the USS Wisconsin located at the Nauticus and participation in the 54th Annual International Azalea Festival, where the band was recognized as Grand Champions of the Parade of Nations, along with being awarded Best Overall Marching, Best Overall Music and Queen Bee Meghan Kinty was awarded Best Drum Major. The group also attended a performance at the Virginia International Tattoo and visited Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia on Sunday.
March 2008: Trip to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the Carnival Fascination. While cruising, the band performed on the deck of the Fascination prior to performing at Rawson Square in Nassau. The trip also included a day at Carnival's Half Moon Cay.
January 19, 2009: Second Inaugural Parade for Governor Joe Manchin in Charleston, West Virginia
May 2009: Twelfth performance for the Busy Bee Band & Honeybees in the Walt Disney World "Mainstreet U.S.A." Parade.
May 2010: Trip to New York City, which included a performance and tour at CBS Studios and a command show on the USS Intrepid. The group went to the "Top of the Rock" at Rockefeller Center and traveled to Ellis Island before seeing Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Traveling home, the group stopped in Brick, New Jersey for the Brick Memorial Day Parade before spending the day at the Jersey Shore.
May 2011: Trip to Washington, D.C., including Floral Tribute at Arlington National Cemetery and Iwo Jima National Marine Memorial; view Changing of the Guard at Tombs of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery
April 2012: Trip to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas. The trip included performances at Rawson Square in Nassau and aboard the ship. The group also spent a day at Royal Caribbean's private island, CoCoCay.
October 2012: Trip to Pittsburgh, PA for the Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade followed by the Thomas Jefferson High School Band Spectacular
May 2013: Thirteenth performance for the Busy Bee Band & Honeybees in the Walt Disney World "Mainstreet U.S.A." Parade.
December 2014: Busy Bee Band & Honeybees return to Pittsburgh for a Steelers performance for the first time in 16 years and the first time at Heinz Field. The Steelers defeated the Bengals to claim the AFC North Title.
March 2015: Trip to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas. The trip included performances at Rawson Square in Nassau and aboard the ship. The group also spent a day at Royal Caribbean's private island, CoCoCay. Following the cruise, the group visited Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, which included a night showing of Blue Man Group.
May 2015: Participate in the Strawberry Festival Parade in Buckhannon, West Virginia
April 2016: Trip to Washington, D.C., including Floral Tribute at Arlington National Cemetery and Iwo Jima National Marine Memorial; view Changing of the Guard at Tombs of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery
Fall 2016: Multiple trips to Pittsburgh, including the Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade and Bethel Park Band Spectacular in October and a performance at Heinz Field for the Pittsburgh Steelers in December
April 2017: Fourteenth performance for the Busy Bee Band & Honeybees in the Walt Disney World "Mainstreet U.S.A." Parade.
April 2018: Trip to New York City, which included a performance aboard the USS Intrepid. The group went to the "Top of the Rock" at Rockefeller Center and took a sight-seeing tour before seeing Aladdin on Broadway.
May 28, 2018: Participate in 151st Grafton Memorial Day Parade in Grafton, WV
April 2019: Trip to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the Carnival Liberty, including performance at Rawson Square in Nassau and in the Venetian Palace aboard the Liberty. Following the cruise, the group visited Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and ended the evening with a showing of Blue Man Group.