JACKSON MARCHING BAND FESTIVAL IS OCT. 3

The 56th annual Jackson Marching Band Festival will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Jackson Schools will dismiss at 2:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the alternate date will be Tuesday, Oct. 10. The days' events will include a parade through downtown Jackson at 3:30 p.m. and the evening Band Festival beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Jackson High School Stadium. The cost for the show is $2 for adults and $1 for students, and will be collected at the gate.

This marching band festival started in 1945 when Jackson Band director Leroy Mason wanted to establish a noncompetitive marching event for Southeast Missouri area bands. Today, the festival is so large that there are now four locations: Kennett, Poplar Bluff, and Jackson. Schools participating this year in the Jackson festival are as follows: Oak Ridge, Delta, Meadow Heights, Oran, Kelly, Greenville, Perryville, East Prairie, Valle, Woodland, Chaffee, Scott County Central, Charleston, Sikeston, Scott City, Advance, Cape Central, Jackson Freshmen, and Jackson High School Marching Chiefs.

The massed band performance will be a tribute to Band Festivals past, present, and future.