Marching band fans head to Jackson festival

Marching band enthusiasts endured warm temperatures to line High Street for the 61st annual Jackson Marching Band Festival parade on Monday.

More than 15 high school marching bands from Southeast Missouri participated in the event in Jackson.

Woodland Junior High School teacher Barbie Stroder held her 2-year-old son, Matthew, on her lap during the parade. The drums were Matthew's favorite instrument.

"We come every year," Stroder said. "We really enjoy ourselves and the heat hasn't really bothered us."

Temperatures reached close to 90 degrees on the unusually hot October day.

Vanessa Johnson found a seat on the sidewalk out of the sun.

"It's not too bad under the shade," Johnson said as she watched Central High School's marching band pass by. "It's got to be extremely hot in those uniforms the kids are wearing."

Johnson's daughter plays snare drums for Scott County Central's marching band.

"Some of the bands seem kind of smaller this year," she commented. "It seems there's not as many kids in band anymore."

The parade route ran from Jackson High School through uptown Jackson. The band festival took place in the high school's football stadium in the evening hours.

The marching band festival began in 1945 when Jackson band director LeRoy Mason wanted to establish a noncompetitive marching event for local high school bands.

"It's a nice showcase of all the different bands," Johnson said. "I really enjoy seeing the flag girls perform and just listening to the music."

Some of the participating schools for the band festival were Cape Central, Chaffee, Charleston, Delta, Jackson, Oran, Meadow Heights, Oak Ridge, Perryville, Scott City, Scott County Central, St. Vincent of Perryville, Valle of Ste. Genevieve and Woodland.

jfreeze@semissourian.com