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View Winners → 68th annual Arcadia Festival of Bands announced for Saturday, Nov. 20
Arcadia Weekly Nov 05, 2021
Photo of band, particularly the tubist, performing | Photo courtesy of the Arcadia Music Club
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The Arcadia Festival of Bands, which is the longest-running event of its kind, is set to have its 68th annual festival take place on Saturday, Nov. 20. The all-day event consists of a Band Review starting at 9 a.m. on Baldwin Avenue, south of Huntington Drive, with the Dignitary Parade leading off at 8:40 a.m.
The Percussion Festival starts at 11 a.m. at Salter Stadium at Arcadia High School followed by the Band Review Awards Ceremony at 1:45 p.m.
The evening field tournament is the 6A Division Championship for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). That particular event is currently scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at Citrus College in Glendora followed by the Awards Ceremony at 8:30 p.m.
“While the pandemic might have affected last year’s parade schedule, it only helped to strengthen the band’s musicianship and determination,” said Kevin Sherrill, Band and Percussion Director at Arcadia High School. “The return of the bands is happening and it’s going to be our best parade yet.”
The 2021 Grand Marshals are Fred and Maryann Stevens who guide and mentor incoming students and parents. Fred became a Percussion Pit Dad and started eight years of being a Music Camp Chaperone for a week in Idyllwild when son Alex joined percussion in 2008. Maryann’s contributions include being Merchandise Chair and Senior Tribute Chair. She spent a couple of years on the Board as VP for Band and brought profits as AFOB Publicity Chair.
Together they fundraised as co-chairs of the band’s annual Spaghetti Dinner and also led AFOB. The Arcadia School District recognized them with the prized Golden Apple Award in 2016.
