The 35th annual Metamora Band Invitational will be held Saturday, Oct. 10 at Malone Field beginning at 3 p.m.

A 35-year Metamora musical tradition continues on Saturday, Oct. 10 when Metamora High School welcomes 21 marching bands to Malone Field.

The annual Metamora Band Invitational will begin at 3 p.m. The first band takes the field at 3:15 p.m. The Metamora Redbird Marching Band will take the field at 8:45 p.m.

Again this year, Metamora Bands has teamed up with the Midwest Percussion Cooperative to present a drum line competition featuring all of the percussion sections from the competing bands.

The drum line portion of the day will run along side the field portion with performances taking place in front of the Historic Metamora Courthouse on the village square beginning with the El Paso-Gridley drum line at 2:15 p.m. There is no cost for admission to the drum line event.

The Metamora Marching Band Invitational is actually two competitions in one.  Smaller bands begin the show, followed by the larger counter parts. A Grand Champion is awarded in each class size.

As a special treat, the Illinois State University Big Red Marching Machine will give what is sure to be a fantastic Exhibition performance at 9:00 pm. Tickets prices are $7 for adults, $5 senior citizens, and $5 for students.  For more information, call 367-4151, Ext. 570.

Participating bands:

Bolingbrook

Bremen

Champaign Central

Crete-Monee

Danville

El Paso-Gridley

Fieldcrest

Galesburg

Geneseo

Hinsdale

Illinois State University

Jacksonville

Kewanee

Metamora

Mt. Zion

Pleasant Plains

Pulse of Peoria Drum-line

Ridgeview

St. Joseph-Ogden

Streator

Wethersfield

— Annual Metamora Band Invitational returns this weekend —