It wasn’t so much the presence of Saturday’s drizzle that dampened the annual Band Day parade for parents of Lawrence high school students.

It was the absence of their children.

Worried that the rain would damage instruments and uniforms, the directors of the Free State and Lawrence high school bands pulled the student musicians from the parade.

Many band parents, unaware of the last-minute decision, waited under umbrellas Saturday afternoon along Massachusetts Street, ready to snap pictures or simply cheer and wave as their children passed.

But the proud moment never came.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Debra Bailey, mother of Free State Marching Firebird Candace Bailey. “They were all dressed up. They all have to be disappointed.”

But the other bands played on. About 50 bands and 3,800 student musicians from Kansas and Missouri were expected to perform in Saturday’s parade and a halftime show at KU football’s home opener against Southwest Missouri State.

Hundreds of people flocked downtown, braving the wet weather to soak up the tunes. The colorful medley of umbrellas and rain coats was as varied as the bands’ uniforms and waving flags.

Two-year-old Reese Loveland caught the fanfare from his father’s shoulders. Mesmerized by the rhythmic drum lines, the little boy couldn’t find the words to describe his excitement.

“He loves marching bands,” Overland Park resident Doug Loveland said of his son. “Going to KU football games for him is going to see the band.”

Thomas Becker wasn’t quite as thrilled about the noises emanating from the street.

“They’re kind of too loud,” the 5-year-old said.

Gerri Donnici of Gladstone, Mo., made the hour-and-a-half trip to Lawrence Saturday to watch her daughter, Maria, march with the Oak Park High School band.

“They did great, considering the rain,” she said. “I can’t believe all these people came out.”

Saturday marked Baldwin resident Pam Sharp’s seventh or eighth Band Day parade.

“I especially like the little bands that come,” said Sharp, whose son, Will, plays trombone in the Baldwin High School marching band. “This is a big thing to come to Lawrence and be in a parade.”

It also was supposed to be a big deal for local student musicians, who missed the parade for the second year in a row. Last year’s event was canceled after the KU game time was switched to 11 a.m. to accommodate network television.

“I’m very disappointed,” LHS trumpet player Laura Windheuser said after the parade. “I felt really bad for the seniors. Everyone was really looking forward to it.”

The Free State and Lawrence High directors couldn’t be reached for comment.

Paula Meyers  whose son, David, plays the trombone for the LHS Marching Lions  was shocked that the Lawrence bands didn’t play. She remembers her own gung-ho years marching in the LHS and KU bands.

“We never would have missed,” she said. “You put on your poncho and keep marching. We marched rain or shine.”