As we near the first weekend of October, we approach the first of the two most-competitive weekends of the season. This weekend, there are eight individual competitions, and as far as we know – one parade!
Red Flannel Festival
Cedar Springs is proud to wear Red Flannel, and the city has rallied around this warm, cozy fabric since 1939. The High School hosts their annual competition as part of the city festivities – following the competition, you may find several bands head downtown to participate in the Red Flannel Festival Parade. Wear flannel and fit in!
The marching event begins bright and early, at 8:00AM. The first six bands in performance will be participating in the MSBOA Open Class – being judged on MSBOA Marching Band Festival sheets. These bands will receive comments and divisional ratings, but will not be scored and are not in competition against one another.
Competition begins with Class D at 9:45AM. Thirteen bands represent all competitive classes. Cedar Springs performs in exhibition at 1:30PM, followed by the Grand Valley State University Laker Marching Band (1:45PM). Awards and Ratings for all will be at 2:10PM.
Find Cedar Springs High School at 204 E Muskegon St NE, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. See the full schedule here.
Lapeer
Lapeer hosts their first competition this Saturday, which starts at 10:55PM. Six bands represent all four classes. Lapeer performs in exhibition at 1:00PM. Admission is $5.
Please note that the stadium is located at Lapeer Center for Innovation, found at 442 Millville Rd, Lapeer, MI 48446. See the full schedule here.
Hastings
The 26th Annual Hastings Invitational will begin this Saturday at 2:15PM. Sixteen bands will be in attendance representing all classes. There will be two awards ceremonies during this event. Awards for Class D and C will be at 4:15PM. Due to construction at the school, performance blocks at this point will extend to 20 minutes to allow additional passing time. Hastings will perform in exhibition at 8:30PM, and awards for Classes B, A, and AA will be at 8:45PM.
Admission costs $6 for Adults, and $5 for Students and Seniors. Hastings High School is located at 520 West South Street, Hastings, MI 49058. See the full schedule here.
Michigan Marching will once again be live-blogging this event. Visit our site on Saturday between 2:00PM and 9:00PM for text and image updates throughout the event.
Alma College
To our knowledge, the Alma College contest has not been cancelled. However, despite several attempts to contact Alma College to request information on the competition, we do not have a schedule nor a list of attending bands. If you have any information about this contest, please contact us.
Vicksburg
Vicksburg will be hosting their second marching invitational this Saturday. This event starts at 2:00PM. Twenty bands will be in competition. Awards for Class B and D will be at 5:00PM. Vicksburg performs in exhibition after Classes C and A (8:30PM). Following a drumline face-off between Portage Central and Vicksburg, awards for Class C and A will announced (9:00PM).
Per the contest host, admission is $6. The high school is located at 501 E Highway Street, Vicksburg, MI 49097. See the full schedule here.
Chippewa Valley
Chippewa Valley hosts their annual competition this Saturday in Clinton Township, which begins at 3:45PM. Seven bands represent classes B, A, and AA. Fraser High School is attending the event in exhibition (5:45PM), followed by Chippewa Valley (6:00PM). Awards for all bands will be at 6:15PM.
Find the high school at 18300 19 Mile Rd, Clinton Township MI, 48038. See the full schedule here.
Grant
Grant hosts one of this weekend’s two MCBA competitions. This event begins at 6:15PM with Grant’s exhibition performance. Eight additional bands will perform, representing all Flights of competition. Due to the parking locations related to the stadium, combined with an overall spectator draw, we strongly encourage attendees plan to arrive extra early for this competition to find parking, arrive at the stadium, and to find seating. Awards for all bands will be at 9:00PM.
Admission is $8 for Adults and $6 for Students and Seniors. Grant’s stadium is found at the middle school, located at 96 E. 120th St., Grant, MI 49327. See the full schedule here.
Novi
Novi’s competition opens around 4:20PM, with competition beginning at 4:30. Fourteen bands will be in attendance representing all flights. Flights IV, III, and II lead the competition, with an awards ceremony for those nine bands at 7:00PM. Flight I rounds out competition, followed by Novi’s exhibition (9:00PM). Awards for Flight I bands will be at 9:15PM.
Admission is $8 for Adults and $6 for Students and Seniors. Novi is located at 24062 Taft Road, Novi, MI 48375. Find the full schedule here.
We want to wish all bands the best of luck this weekend. As we will be at Hastings, and cannot be at all competitions – if you will be in attendance, please considering taking a few moments and passing scores our way once after they’re announced. It is greatly appreciated not only by ourselves but many other band fans like yourselves.