A parade that was to have preceded tonight’s football showdown between Red Bank Regional and Red Bank Catholic high schools at Count Basie Field has been called because of rain.

The game is still scheduled for a 7p kickoff, but the bands from the two schools, which were to have converged at Broad Street and East Bergen Place after marching from their respective schools, won’t be after all, even if the rain lets up, says RBR’s new athletic director, Louis Dal Pra. The musical instruments can’t take the moisture, he says.

“We did everything but pull it off,” says Dal Pra. “But at least we know how to put one together for the next time.”

The next opportunity for the parade is next year’s game under the lights at RBR. Del Pra says he’ll be looking for a way to make something happen with the marching bands in the parking lot.

The parade was to have marked the return to a tradition that went by the boards about 20 years ago, according to local officials.

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