On Friday Sept. 5, the Walmart on Rand Rd announced their grand reopening by holding a ceremony in the morning. To celebrate the occasion, the Palatine High School band and color guard were invited to come perform.
According to band director Carlos Esquivel, there is a band student who has a sibling that works as a manager at Walmart. The sibling suggested the idea of the band coming to play during the grand reopening, and this plan has been developing for a few months.
By performing, the band was able to better connect with the community, and bring anticipation to the occasion. “I think we’re really proud of the work that we put in and the performances that we do, and anytime we have a chance to share that with the community around us, that’s awesome,” Esquivel said.
The grand reopening featured different attractions to help boost community excitement. Guests could enjoy an inflatable basketball bouncy house, booths from brands like Red Bull, and even an energetic appearance from popular Cheetos mascot Chester the Cheetah.
“My favorite part was seeing Chester,” color guard captain Alex Perez said. “He was like, dancing with my coaches and everything. That was really fun to see.”
Walmart also provided goodie bags as a way to thank the band and color guard members. They were filled with an assortment of miscellaneous Walmart merchandise, such as Walmart yo-yos, bowls, and sunglasses.
The band has always participated in many different events throughout the community. In 2020, the band played at the Walk Day event in Busse Woods in support of T1D. A few years later in 2023, the band played at the Harley Davidson Center for Ride for Kids, a foundation that fundraises for children with brain cancer.
