The joy of performing and providing entertainment for others is what enables Raekwon Hare to forego many of the pleasures associated with Heritage Day.

Instead of watching the runners or packing a picnic for the beach, the 14-year-old Clearwater Middle School student is preparing for a long walk in high temperatures and itchy clothes carrying a 15-pound burden.

Raekwon is one of 18 drummers in the PHC Majorettes and Drum Corps, and has been with the group for three years now, though he has been drumming "since I was a little boy."

The morning of the Heritage Day parade sees the corps gathering early at the Spice Valley or PHC field in Warwick to don their suits and get their drum sticks decorated in colourful tape.

Each year the colours of the uniforms and accessories change, and the colours are kept a secret until the very last moment.

"We like to surprise people with a different costume each year," he explained, so even the members of the corps don't see the suits, hats and plumes until the week before the parade.

The drummers and majorettes take buses to the spot where they will start the parade, but are entertaining long before the parade begins. "On the buses, as we go through the streets of Hamilton, we play a little song for the people already camped out and watching us," Raekwon explained.

Once in formation at their designated spot, all they can do is wait, which is "nerve wracking, so you talk to your neighbours to take your mind of how it's going."

The parade veteran is no longer nervous, however, and "now it's kind of fun seeing everybody".

Preparations begin long before May 24 with regular practices on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, and in the lead-up to the parade, on Wednesday evenings as well.

Lengthy practice is important Raekwon explained, because, "We have to memorise the beats and we have a lot of beats to learn.

"We have to make sure we keep in step with the majorettes and other drummers so we won't look sloppy.

"We also have to keep fit because the 24th of May is a long walk for carrying a 15-pound snare drum."

It is worth it though: "It's fun performing in front of people," Raekwon stated emphatically.