The Grand March is the walk that opens prom across much of the Midwest: each couple, pair of friends or solo student is announced by name and walks a stage or runway in front of families, usually in the school gym or auditorium in the late afternoon. It began as the opening march of 19th-century balls, and many schools now stream it live.
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In much of the Midwest, prom starts before anyone dances. Families fill the bleachers, a voice on the microphone reads out two names, and a couple in a gown and a tux walks into the light to cheers and camera flashes. It is called the Grand March, and in some towns it fills the gym. Here is where it comes from, how it works and where it is still going strong, with real schools from Minnesota to Kansas.
The Grand March at a glance
| What it is | A walk before the prom dance: each couple, pair of friends or solo student is announced by name and walks a stage or runway in front of families |
|---|---|
| When | The afternoon or early evening of prom day: 4 p.m. at Zimmerman and Buffalo in Minnesota, 5:30 p.m. at Willmar and in Oskaloosa, Iowa, 7:30 p.m. in Kimball, Nebraska |
| Where | The school gym, auditorium or performing arts center, and in Minot, North Dakota, the City Auditorium |
| Who walks | Couples, friends and singles, depending on the school; some allow groups of three |
| Who watches | Parents, grandparents, friends and often the whole town; many schools let anyone watch free, and some stream it live |
| How long | About 30 minutes at Reedsburg, Wisconsin, followed by the crowning of the prom king and queen |
| Where you'll find it | Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas, and schools in Illinois and Ohio |
What is a Grand March?
A Grand March is the parade that opens prom. Students sign up to walk, line up out of sight, and step out one couple or group at a time as their names are read. They cross a stage or walk a runway, pause to pose for photos, and take their place while the next names are called. When everyone has walked, many schools crown the prom king and queen, the families head home, and the dance begins.
It is part red carpet and part family reunion. For the students it is the moment to be seen in the dress and the suit; for the parents and grandparents who will not be at the dance, it is their part of the night.
Where the Grand March comes from
The Grand March is much older than prom. In the 1800s it opened formal balls: dance manuals collected by the Library of Dance describe it as the first dance of the evening, and an 1879 manual says simply, "Balls always are begun with a Grand March." The host, the floor manager or an honored guest led the line of couples around the room through figures with names like "the Arbor" and "the Serpentine", and an 1852 manual calls the same opening the Polonaise.
Prom itself borrowed its style from high society's balls, History.com notes, and across much of the Midwest the opening march came with it.
Where the Grand March is still a tradition
These are real schools that hold a Grand March, from their own prom pages and local news.
| School and town | What happens |
|---|---|
| Zimmerman Middle and High School Zimmerman, MN | Families take their seats in the school auditorium at 3 p.m. and the march begins at 4, before the dance at the Northern Lights Ballroom |
| Buffalo High School Buffalo, MN | Walking is optional, by sign-up; walkers line up in the main gym and the march starts at 4 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center, free to watch and streamed live |
| Mounds View High School Arden Hills, MN | Students "walk the decorated runway" in the auditorium at "4:30 SHARP", with professional photos; families stay seated for the whole event |
| Byron High School Byron, MN | 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium; walkers sign up "in groups of two or three", spectator tickets raise funds, and it is streamed live |
| Willmar Senior High School Willmar, MN | 5:30 p.m., and "Everyone is welcome for our free viewing"; buses then take students to the prom venue |
| Oskaloosa High School Oskaloosa, IA | The "promenade" at 5:30 p.m. in the large gym, open to the public, free and streamed live |
| Jefferson High School Cedar Rapids, IA | A Grand March before the prom dance and post-prom |
| Reedsburg Area High School Reedsburg, WI | Juniors walk alone, with a friend or date, or in a group of three; about 30 minutes, then the king and queen are crowned and families leave for the dance to start |
| Wisconsin Lutheran High School Milwaukee, WI | The 2026 king and queen were crowned at the Grand March |
| Fulton High School Fulton, IL | The court walks first; names are read from slips the walkers hand in, and families watch from bleachers and floor seats |
| Pleasanton High School Pleasanton, KS | Couples and singles walked down from the stage into the spotlight to music they chose; some added a dip or a spin |
| Kimball High School Kimball, NE | 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium, with royalty crowned during the march and local residents encouraged to come |
| Wessington Springs High School Wessington Springs, SD | "A packed house filled the gymnasium"; students made a second pass with confetti and coordinated moves |
| Minot's high schools Minot, ND | "The City Auditorium fills with spectators while prom-goers parade down a catwalk" |
| Shelby High School Shelby, OH | "An opening tradition": students arrived in classic cars and a limousine, then were introduced and posed for photos as families watched |
It is not every school, and it changes from year to year: in 2026 Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa, told families there would be no Grand March before the dance. Check your school's prom page before you plan the day around it.
How a Grand March works
- Sign up. Walkers usually register ahead, with the names to be read out. At Buffalo, walking is optional and done by form.
- Line up. Walkers gather out of sight, in the main gym at Buffalo or the Commons at Byron, while families take their seats.
- Hear your names. At Fulton, each walker hands an introduction slip to a helper, who passes it to the announcer.
- Walk and pose. Fulton's instructions sum it up: "When you hear your names, walk across the stage, stop in front of the arch on the X and face the crowd."
- Get the photo. Some schools hire a photographer: at Reedsburg every walker gets a professional photo, and Mounds View has professional photos taken too.
- Crown the court. After the last walkers, the prom king and queen are crowned at many schools, from Reedsburg to Kimball.
- On to the dance. Families leave and the students head to the dance, at the school or by bus to a venue.
Tips for walking the Grand March
- Practice the walk. Try it in your shoes, on stairs if your school uses a stage, and decide where you will stop and turn.
- Plan your pose. A simple stop, a turn and a smile works; Pleasanton's couples added dips and spins, and Wessington Springs made a second pass with confetti.
- Pick the music if you can. Some schools, like Pleasanton, let each couple walk to a song they chose.
- Don't worry about a date. Many schools welcome friends, groups and singles.
- Be early. Walkers line up well before the start, and at Mounds View families are told the march starts "4:30 SHARP".
- Share the link. If your school streams it, send it to the relatives who can't make it.
Arriving for the Grand March
At some schools the arrival is part of the show. At Shelby High School in Ohio, students pulled up "in an assortment of classic cars including Mustangs, a Corvette, Camaro" and an Escalade limousine, with staff parking the cars as valets. Others keep it simple: Willmar's prom page reminds students that "you do not need an automobile to be a part of the Grand March", and buses then take everyone to the prom venue. Some schools require students to ride the school bus to and from the dance, as Mukwonago High School in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, does, so check the rules first, then book the ride for the part of the night it is allowed for: the march, the photos and dinner, or the trip home.
A classic car
A vintage sedan or convertible turns the walk from the car into the first photo of the night.
Best for: a couple's arrival. See classic and vintage car rental.
A stretch limousine
The classic prom car, with room for a group of couples and their photos at the curb.
Best for: a few couples together. See prom limo rental.
An SUV limousine
A stretched Hummer or Escalade makes the bigger entrance and carries a bigger group.
Best for: a big group that wants to be seen. See Hummer limo rental.
A party bus
The whole friend group arrives together, and the same bus takes everyone on to dinner and the dance.
Best for: the whole group in one vehicle. See party bus rental.
The Grand March and the lead-out
The same idea goes by other names. Oskaloosa calls its march the promenade, and in Alabama, Sylacauga High School's seniors practice to "walk in lead-out" before their prom. Whatever it's called, it's the moment the town gets to see its seniors dressed up, and the photo families keep. For the rest of prom season, see our guides to when prom is in 2027 and after-prom party ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Grand March at prom?
A walk that opens prom: each couple or group is announced by name and walks a stage or runway in front of families, usually in the school gym or auditorium, before the dance.
Which states have a prom Grand March?
It is a Midwest tradition: you'll find it in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas, with schools in Illinois and Ohio too. Some schools elsewhere hold a similar walk under another name.
Do you need a date to walk the Grand March?
Usually not. Schools like Reedsburg let students walk alone, with a friend or date, or in a group of three, and Pleasanton introduced singles as well as couples.
Can parents and the public watch?
Yes, at most schools. Many make it free to watch, some sell spectator tickets as a fundraiser, and several stream it live for relatives at home.
What time is the Grand March?
Usually the late afternoon or early evening of prom day, from about 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the schools above, before the dance starts.
Sources
History: the Library of Dance and History.com. Schools: each school's own prom page or the local paper, linked in the table above. Linn-Mar: Linn-Mar High School. Lead-out: Sylacauga High School.
