Music to march by

On a sparkling blue day last week 15 area marching bands converged on Jackson to parade through uptown and later perform at the high school stadium. About 500 people turned out at the stadium to watch and listen, a pretty good crowd for a stadium in the absence of a football game.

The alumni of bands that have participated during the 62 years of the Jackson Marching Band Festival have fond memories of the event. Jackson always welcomes the musicians warmly, and there's an opportunity to mingle with musicians from other schools.

For many bands from small schools the festival is a rare chance to show people what they can do.

Any band festival is uplifting, a kaleidoscope of stirring music and well-drilled movements. Jackson's band festival is one of the great ones.