Missouri Day Marching Band Festival

MISSOURI DAY MARCHING BAND FESTIVAL AND PARADE HIGHLIGHT

Who doesn’t love a parade? High school bands showing off their musical
talents while local businesses and organizations toss candy to spectators
from their theme-decorated floats and motorized conveyances. And, of
course, those high-stepping horses.

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In Trenton, it’s not unusual to see spectators lined three-deep along the
one mile-plus route to watch the popular Missouri Day Festival parade,
which this year is set for Saturday, Oct. 19. Organized by the Trenton
Rotary Club, the parade also serves as one of four events in which area
high school marching bands compete as part of the Missouri Day Marching
Festival.

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This year’s parade kicks off at 8:30am and begins at the corner of Crowder
Road and Main Street (at the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library). The
parade will continue down Main Street to Ninth Street, making a turn and
continuing on to Normal Street, where the bands will exit for other judging
events throughout the day.

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This is the 27th year for the band festival, which began in 1997 under the
direction of former Trenton High School band director, the late Buddy
Hannaford, and his wife, Karla. There were 18 bands in the first festival,
including 13 which participated in the parade. In 2024, there are 31 bands,
including 23 scheduled to take part in the parade.

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A committee of seven persons organize the band festival, led by Trenton R-
9 Band Director Anthony Webb and his assistant, Phil Ray. Others on the
committee include Katie Kinney, Nancy Clark, NiCole Neal, Brent Stephens
and Lora Harp. In addition, a host of volunteers are kept busy on
competition day, welcoming the out-of-town visitors, making sure
bands/band members get to their assigned spots, answering questions,
etc.

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The Trenton High School Marching Bulldog Band serves as the local host
for the Marching Band Festival and performs in exhibition during each of
the four judging competitions.

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All competitions are open to the public, free of charge. The indoor auxiliary
and colorguard events will be held in the Trenton High School gymnasium,
with the field show competition to take place at historic C.F. Rusell Stadium.
Awards will also be presented at the stadium at around 7:30 pm.
A schedule of all band festival judging events, along with a map of the
parade route and a list of competition judges, can be found at
www.missouridaysmarching.com.

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THE REST OF THE MISSOURI DAY WEEKEND

The 2024 Missouri Day Festival kicks off on Thursday night, Oct. 17, with
the annual soup supper, sponsored by the Trenton Area Ministerial
Alliance. The supper will be held at the First Baptist Church, beginning at 5
pm and followed at 7 pm by the Opening Ceremonies. Contest winners will
be announced and the parade grand marshal (Joseph L. Norton VFW Post
No. 919) will be honored. There will also be a guest speaker.

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Vendors and the flea market open for business at the Rock Barn area at 10
am on Friday. There will also be inflatables for the kids, live blacksmith
demonstrations and a display by the Grundy County Museum throughout
the day. A baby show, sponsored by the Green Hills MOMCO, will be held
in the Rock Barn pavilion area at 6 pm (registration at 5:30 pm).

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Saturday’s schedule begins with the Missouri Day Parade at 8:30am, with
marching band competitions being held throughout the day at the high
school and CF Russell Stadium. The Trenton FFA will have a petting zoo in
the livestock pavilion from 10 am to 2 pm. Other events include face
painting and a balloon artist, 10 am to 2 pm; a nine-hole mini golf course,
10 am to 7 pm; and inflatables for kids, 10 am to 7 pm. Crowder State Park
will have a “Buffalo Soldiers Presentation” from 10 to 11 am at the Camp
Grand River Recreation Hall and the North 65 Center will have a dance
from 7 to 10 pm, featuring the Silverado Band.

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Sunday’s schedule features the Missouri Day Car Show, sponsored by
Trenton Elks Lodge No. 801, at the lodge in downtown Trenton.
Registration is from 8 to 11:30 am, with the show to follow.

You can find more information about the schedule of events and vendors at www.trentonmochamber.com.