Vikingland Band Festival

The Vikingland Band Festival parade marching championship is heldannually in Alexandria, Minnesota on the last Sunday of June. Theevent was founded in 1985 and is widely regarded as the midwest's biggestand most prestigious summer marching band competition.

The parade features only marching bands. It does not include floats orother units commonly associated with parades. Bands march at athree-block interval to prevent their music from blending together. Alexandria's extra-wide main street provides an outstanding venue for the performances.

A panel of six judges provides taped feedback and scores for each band.Placement awards are presented to every band, with the top band in eachclass earning the distinction of Class Champion. The overall highscoring band of the day is named the Grand Champion. Each champion bandis awarded a traveling flag to carry for one year. If a band wins itschampion title for three consecutive years, the band earns the right tokeep the flag. Caption awards are presented for the top wind section,percussion section and color guard in each class.

One band is named the "People's Choice" by a panel of non-professionaljudges.

Participants

The Vikingland Band Festival has drawn 79 different bands since itsinception in 1985. Participants have come from seven different states(Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, South Carolina, South Dakota,Michigan), two Canadian provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and Norway.

Although many of the performing bands are experienced competitors withlong-standing traditions of excellence, the festival welcomes youngerbands as well. Organizers believe the education, intensity andsportsmanship can provide a valuable experience for any band.

The tradition of including non-competing "honor bands" in the parade wasstarted in 1989 as a way to showcase a variety of marching styles.Styles represented have included foreign bands, military bands,bagpipes, drum and bugle corps and percussion lines.

History

Seven different bands have earned the title of Grand Champion: LongPrairie (1985); Henry Sibley (1986); Litchfield (1987-1990, 1998);Irondale (1991-1996); Park Center (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008); Mankato Lancers (2000, 2002); and Waconia (2004-2006). Since 1989 the festival has presented traveling flags to the Grand Champion and Class Champion bands. A band can retire a flag in its honor by winning the title three consecutive years. Two bands have retired Grand Champion flags: Irondale (1993, 1996) and Waconia (2006). Five bands have retired Class Champion flags: Bertha-Hewitt (1991, 1997), Litchfield (1991, 1994, 1997, 2000), Long Prairie (1995, 1998), Park Center (1999) and Winona Cotter (1994, 2006).

Participants and spectators have developed traditions surrounding theevent, such as intense last-minute rehearsals, potluck meals along theparade route, and a spirited awards ceremony.

The event has inspired other communities across the state to startsimilar parade competitions.

External links

[http://www.vikinglandbandfestival.com Vikingland Band Festival Official Website]