JACKSON BAND FESTIVAL FEATURES PARADE, TRIBUTE

JACKSON -- The 52nd annual Jackson Marching Band Festival will be held Tuesday, Oct. 1.

The day's events will include a parade through downtown Jackson at 1:30 p.m., with field shows starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Jackson High School stadium.

There will be an admission charge.

In the event of bad weather, the festival will take place Oct. 8.

Schools participating in this year's festival are Greenville, Meadow Heights, Puxico, Oran, Bloomfield, Chaffee, Delta, Scott County Central, Charleston, Sikeston, Advance and Jackson.

The massed band performance will be a tribute to Missouri's 175th birthday this year.

The Jackson Marching Band Festival started in the mid 1940s when then-band director Leroy Mason wanted to establish a noncompetitive event for Southeast Missouri bands.

The idea has grown to the point that this year, four communities -- Perryville, Kennett, Poplar Bluff and Jackson -- will host festivals.