The Marching Kangs Lead Kirkland’s Mini Belonging Parade | City Hall for All 2026
The Lake Washington High School Marching Kangs stepped off the football field and into the heart of downtown Kirkland on Sept. 19 to lead the Mini Belonging Parade at City Hall for All, the City’s annual celebration of what makes Kirkland a welcoming place for everyone.
Held during Welcoming Week and honoring Hispanic Heritage Month at Kirkland City Hall, City Hall for All brought together more than 40 City departments and community partners, a children’s business fair, the fan-favorite Truck-a-Palooza, and performances that reflect the many cultures that call Kirkland home.
The LWHS Marching Kangs led City Councilors and families on a loop around City Hall, with kids following along on foot, in wagons, and in strollers, waving decorations they’d picked up at the booths.
Leading a parade about belonging was a fitting assignment, because belonging is something the Marching Kangs have been building from the inside out. LWHS revived its marching program in 2025 after a 40-year absence. In just two seasons, the band has grown 24%, from 85 to 105 students, and it now draws a more diverse group of students than the school as a whole. For those 105 students, the band is a ready-made community, with a section to belong to and a tradition to carry forward.
That is no small thing in a place like ours. The Eastside is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, and many of our neighbors are rebuilding their connections in a new city, and for some, a new country. The City of Redmond’s 2025 Teen Services Report found that belonging, mental health support, and culturally inclusive community spaces are what local teens say they need most, and a 2025 study by Rose found that students who participate in marching band report stronger connectedness and well-being than their peers.
For our students, this is what community service looks like: showing up on a Saturday, playing for neighbors of every age and background, and using music to make a civic celebration feel like a party everyone is invited to. Performances like this are part of how the Marching Kangs now strengthen civic life -- and inspire young musicians -- across Kirkland, Redmond, and the Eastside, reaching thousands of residents each year at football games, school events, and City celebrations like this one.
A huge thank-you to the City of Kirkland for inviting us, to Vamolá and Brazilian Swag for sharing the route with us, and to the families who marched alongside the band.
Want to help keep this program accessible and equitable for every student? The LWHS Band + Jazz Boosters are raising funds for new uniforms and marching program support through the Capes for Kangs campaign. To learn more about the LWHS Bands and their performances, visit our website.
Sources: OSPI 2025–26 enrollment data; U.S. Census ACS 2024; City of Redmond Teen Services Report 2025; Rose 2025; Gallup & Rippel 2026.
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City Hall for All is a public, family-friendly event designed to foster civic engagement, cultural inclusion, and dialogue between the City and the community. Kirkland prides itself on being a respectful, welcoming community where everyone feels that they can belong at the event. City Hall for All 2026 – City of Kirkland
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