Brian Hughes and daughter Savannah will perform in Thanksgiving Day parades in New York City and Philadelphia, Pa. Brian is a Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps alumni. Savannah is a member of the Hartselle High School band. | Clif Knight

Hartselle’s Brian Hughes and daughter Savannah, a freshman at Hartselle High School, have good reasons to be in New York City and Philadelphia, Pa. on Thanksgiving Day.

Hughes and his tuba will play and march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Savannah and her mellophone will perform in the 6ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day parade.

Hughes is a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, whose 326 alumni and 100 active members will have the honor of introducing Santa Claus in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Savannah is a second year member of Hartselle High School’s marching band, which will perform in the Philadelphia parade.

The Macy’s parade will be broadcast on NBC while the Philadelphia parade will be streamed at 6abc.com.

“It was like ‘wow’ when I found out that Hannah would be marching with Hartselle’s band 30 minutes away at about the same time,” Hughes stated.

“It’s really special to me for her to get to do this,” he added.

Savannah said she is excited about making the bus trip and performing in the parade.

“It’s definitely a step up from football games,” she pointed out.

Hughes said he would drive to NYC, leaving Sunday and arriving late Monday.

“We’ll be practicing almost non-stop from midnight Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday since the alumni and active members haven’t played together since 2006,” Hughes said.

The Madison Scouts, which is represented by members and alumni from 40 states and six foreign countries, will appear briefly on TV before the parade starts and again at the end of the parade at about noon. Marching ahead of Santa, the band will play “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Happy.”

Hughes was accepted as a member of Madison Scouts in 1885 while performing for the Lawrence County High School band. He is now serving as a member of the board of directors.

Brian Hughes and daughter Savannah will perform in Thanksgiving Day parades in New York City and Philadelphia, Pa. Brian is a Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps alumni. Savannah is a member of the Hartselle High School band. | Clif Knight