Holy Cross to Host First Annual New England Collegiate Marching Band Festival

On Sunday, Oct. 5 neighboring collegiate marching bands will join together for the first annual New England Collegiate Marching Band Festival. The festival is a new performance opportunity for collegiate marching bands to come together and perform their fall field productions without the added stressors that accompany a football game or high school competition. Gates will open at 11 a.m., and the festival will begin at 12 p.m. on Fitton Field. The event is free and open to the public.

Marching bands exist to entertain crowds both with their spirit and their musical talents. With that in mind, the festival hopes to focus on the overall experience each of the marching bands brings to their stadiums and arenas.

A local parade band will kick off the festival at 12 p.m. with the National Anthem, followed by 20 minute performances by each of the participating schools. Upon finishing their performance, band members will enter the stands to watch the remaining performances and cheer on their musical colleagues.

In addition, all profits raised from sale of concessions, 50/50 raffles, program books, t-shirts, and from donation bins will be split with each band that performs.

The 10 college bands slated to perform include the Boston College "Screaming Eagles" Marching Band, Boston University Marching Band, Bowie State Symphony of Soul Marching Band, Central Connecticut State University Blue Devil Marching Band, College of the Holy Cross "Goodtime" Marching Band, Marist College Red Fox Marching Band, Sacred Heart University Pioneer Marching Band, University of Connecticut Marching Band, University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks Marching Band, University of New Hampshire Wildcat Marching Band, and University of New Haven Chargers Marching Band.