The annual Southern Heritage Classic is far more than a football game. Each year, on the Saturday morning of the game at 9 AM, the Southern Heritage Classic Parade begins from the corner of Park Avenue and Haynes Street, and proceeds along Park through Orange Mound to the Lamar-Airways Shopping Center. The parade usually includes the Jackson State University and Tennessee State University bands, along with majorettes, drill teams,drumlines, Cowboys and Steelers fan clubs, car clubs and many others. There used to be more marching bands in the parade as well, but for the last few years, the parade has conflicted with the Southern Heritage Classic Battle of the Bands in Whitehaven, so there have been fewer bands recently, but the hometown favorites, the Melrose High School Sound of the Mound Marching Band always closes out the parade. It’s always a lot of fun, family and food.
Southern Heritage Classic Tailgating
Southern Heritage Classic tailgating, Tiger Lane, Memphis TN, 9/8/12
Melrose’s Sound of the Mound Marching Band in the Southern Heritage Classic Parade, 2012
Melrose School became a full high school in 1946, the same year that Hamilton High School opened, and since then Melrose has been indelibly linked with the Orange Mound neighborhood. The school has been known for excellence in football, basketball and music, and the Sound of the Mound marching band is the favorite band in the Southern Heritage Classic Parade, 9/8/12
Bikers enjoy the Southern Heritage Classic Parade, Orange Mound, Memphis TN, 9/8/12
Bikers enjoy the Southern Heritage Classic Parade, Orange Mound, Memphis TN, 9/8/12
Bikers enjoy the Southern Heritage Classic Parade, Orange Mound, Memphis TN, 9/8/12
The Star Steppers Marching Majorettes and Drummers in the Southern Heritage Classic Parade 2012
The Star Steppers Marching Majorettes and Drummers march in the Southern Heritage Classic Parade, Orange Mound, Memphis TN, 9/8/12
More Steelers Fans, Southern Heritage Classic Parade, Orange Mound, Memphis TN, 9/8/12
More Steelers Fans, Southern Heritage Classic Parade, Orange Mound, Memphis TN, 9/8/12
The Sparkling Diamondettes and the Ice Storm Drumline, Southern Heritage Classic Parade, 2012
The Sparkling Diamondettes and the Ice Storm Drumline march in the Southern Heritage Classic Parade in Orange Mound, Memphis TN, 9/8/12
Even More Classic Cars at the Southern Heritage Classic Parade 2012
Even more classic cars, Southern Heritage Classic Parade, Orange Mound, Memphis TN, 9/8/12