After being informed that my jokes regarding off-the-wall holidays were off-putting last week, I won’t go into lengthy, pun-filled details. However, this Saturday features “Make a Difference Day,” “National Bologna Day,” and “United Nation’s Day.”
As for marching related events? We’ve got four contests this weekend as Scholastic concludes its season and MCBA begins the “Countdown To State”.
East Kentwood
Competition in Kentwood begins at 2:45 PM. East Kentwood High School is located at 6230 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Kentwood, MI 49508. 23 bands compete, and East Kentwood performs in exhibition at 9:30 PM. Awards for all classes will be at 9:45 PM. In years past, tickets seem to have been $7 for Adults, and $5 for students and seniors. Click here for more information.
Jenison
Jenison earns the title for largest event, with 45 bands in competition. Jenison is located at 2140 Bauer Road, Jenison, MI 49428. Tickets for the event are $8 for Adults, and $6 for Students/Seniors. Children pre-schooled age or younger are free, and there is a family ticket (max. 2 adults) for $24.
Scholastic:
Jenison’s Scholastic competition features 21 competing bands, and begins with Class D at 8:45 AM. Awards for Classes D and C will be at 11:15 AM. Like last week at Lakeshore, Awards ceremonies here are short! Class B will begin at 11:30 AM. Please arrive early, Class B fans; consider watching an extra band or two before leaving, Class D/C fans. Let’s make sure all bands gets the respect they deserve. Whatever you do: do not enter or leave the stands during any band’s performance.
Class B, as mentioned, begins at 11:30 AM, followed by Class A, and Class AA. Jenison’s Scholastic Exhibition will be at 2:45 PM, with Awards for Classes B, A, and AA at 3:00 PM. This Awards ceremony is more relaxed, as the MCBA competition does not begin until 3:45 PM. Click here for more information.
MCBA:
As mentioned, MCBA competition begins at 3:45 PM. 24 bands are competing in this MCBA contest. The first Flight is Flight IV, and Tri-County, who is new to MCBA competition, is the first competing band of the contest. Flight IV concludes with Awards at 6:30 PM. Please note this is another 15-minute awards ceremony. Flight IV fans may want to consider waiting a band or two into Flight III to leave.
Flight III begins at 6:45 PM. It is recommended that Flight III fans arrive early due to the shortened Awards ceremony. Flight I follows III, with Flight II last. Jenison’s MCBA exhibition is at 10:30 PM, with Awards for Flights III, I, and II at 10:45 PM. Click here for more information.
Clarkston
20 bands total will perform in Clarkston this Saturday, whose High School is located at 6093 Flemings Lake Road, Clarkston, MI 48346. The event begins at 2:45 PM. Competition starts with Flight IV at 3:00. Flight III follows, and Awards for Flights IV and III will be at 5:45 PM. There is an extended break, and competition resumes at 6:45 with Flight II. Flight I competes, and then Clarkston performs in Exhibition at 9:15 PM. Awards for Flights II and I will be at 9:30 PM. MCBA ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Click here for more information.
Great Lakes Invitational
Plymouth-Canton’s Great Lakes Invitational takes place at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park stadium, located at 8415 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton, MI 48187. The event begins at 4:00 PM with a performance of the National Anthem by the Plymouth-Canton Middle Schools Band. Flight III competition begins at 4:15, followed by Flight II at 4:45, and Flight I at 6:15. Plymouth-Canton’s exhibition performance will be at 6:30, and Awards for All Flights will be at 7:00 PM. MCBA ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Click here for more information.
This is the last competitive weekend for many Scholastic Bands. We wish every band the best of luck, and hope that they have had a joyous, wonderful, and educational season. We look forward to what you’ll leave on the field this Saturday, and cannot wait to see what you’ll bring next year.