After four years, the Drums on Parade Pre-show Tailgate returns to Firemen’s Park (adjacent to Middleton High School) on July 1 from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m.
This will be the last year Robin and his 70’s crew will run the DOP Tailgate. If any younger alumni would be interested in taking it over, this would be a great year to participate and learn the ropes.
A big thank you and a tip of the Aussie to everyone who has volunteered and helped Robin since 2009. We certainly hope that this annual alumni gathering will be able to continue in some form.
The DOP Tailgate was started in 2009 by Robin Goldberg. Robin had been away from drum corps for years, but after marching the MSARP field show in 2006, the corps bug hit him again. The first tailgate was started with the idea of selling pizza and soda to corps members parked next to the park pavilion. The original crew was Robin (73-76), Scott Spilde (70-74 Jr. Corps,75&76), Robin’s wife Marcia, daughter Megan and son Reid. Sales were very disappointing that first year. The new generation of corps members didn’t feel pizza, and soda was the best meal they’d have all week as the guys who marched in the 70s would have.
In 2010, the focus was more on an alumni and fan gathering; beer was added to the menu. Robin, Scott, and Robin’s family continued most of the work with some added bartenders. Although there was a big bump in the road (a CO2 leak turning the beer into foam), Robin saved the day by bringing in some cases of beer. In 2011 Mike Ausman (75&76) became the volunteer coordinator and later became the online presence to promote the tailgate and donations. The DOP Tailgate up through 2019 grew yearly in crowd size and sales and now requires 30 to 35 volunteers. The singing of Never Walk Alone at the Tailgate with the current members and generations of Scouts is as special as anything that occurs at Drums on Parade every year. The Tailgates have raised well over $80,000.00 for the Scouts.
Volunteer to help us at this year's DOP Tailgate-crew from 2018 DOP TG
We still need volunteers for this year’s tailgate. If you can help, please contact Mike Ausman at
Watch for information regarding Keg Sponsorships and discount meal passes coming soon on the MSAA and other Scouts' Facebook pages.