Since 2023, the music department at Pottsgrove High School has taken yearly trips, such as to Washington, D.C., and New York City. This year, they took a trip to the windy city, Chicago! The bus left Monday night at 8 pm sharp for the long 16-hour ride. The first thing they did was visit the Chicago Cultural Center, which was filled with art and film from many different walks of life. They then took a trip over to Washington Food Hall for a quick bite to eat before going on an Architectural Boat Cruise down the Chicago River. They ended the day with a trip to the Old Orchard Mall for dinner and finally returned to the hotel for the first night of rest, not on an uncomfortable bus seat. The next day, they arrived bright and early at the Shedd Aquarium. Dolphins, Beluga whales, sea otters, fish, and more fish were observed. The visit ended with a 4D Penguin experience. Next was a city tour with notable locations such as the Bean. After a long day, they feasted on deep dish pizza at Gino’s East before departing for the Cadillac Palace Theater to watch a Broadway tour of “Moulin Rouge”. The next day, the music department arrived at the Field Museum to perform in the main hall. The concert choir and chamber choir started off the performance, followed by the orchestra, and with a finale by the jazz band, which was a huge success! After running around the museum, they departed for the Lincoln Park Zoo. For dinner, they went to Ed Debevik’s Restaurant, which is an eccentric 50s-themed restaurant where the waiters act rude and snobby (of course, in a funny way). The department then left for the Chicago Symphony Center to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform, featuring the Joffrey Ballet. The last day included the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, which had so many things. From flight simulators to different illusions to submarines, the museum was filled with things to do. They then left for the Magnificent Mile, which is the shopping district of Chicago. One notable store on the mile was a new Harry Potter pop-up store that had just opened the day before (the butter beer was delicious). They then departed for the Navy Pier, which has a famous Ferris Wheel in the same place that the Ferris Wheel was in the Chicago World Fair in 1893. The day concluded with dinner and dancing on a DJ cruise. Unfortunately, due to mechanical problems, the boat was not able to leave the dock, but it was a great time nonetheless. The music department got back on the bus to depart for another 16 hours til they arrived back at Pottsgrove High School. The trip was a cool and interesting experience, and the music department can’t wait until next year’s trip for 2026 gets announced.
