80th North Iowa Band Festival
Award Winners, Royalty Announced
MASON CITY— For the first time in recent history, the North Iowa Band Festival parade marched through Mason City without the threat of rain. Katie Hirv of Rockford and Shaden Tweeten from Forest City were crowned Band Festival Queen and King under sunny skies. Katie is the daughter of Alex and Tammie Hirv and plans to attend Wartburg this fall. Shaden’s parents are Terry and Shelby Tweeten. He will attend Iowa State University.
For the fourth consecutive year, Lake Mills High School was awarded the Meredith Willson Sweepstakes prize, which is awarded to the high school marching band with the overall highest score. As host schools for the event, Mason City High School and Newman High School marching bands are not eligible for the competition, and their royalty are not eligible to be crowned festival queen and king.
To encourage participation in the marching band competition from area schools, the North Iowa Band Festival Committee provides travel stipends to each participating band. The schools that marched in this year’s parade represent more than 30 communities with a long history of participation in the festival parade.
Award Winners:
Marching Bands
Middle School Clear Lake Middle School—1st Place
Class 1A Northwood Kensett High School—1st Place
Rudd Rockford Marble Rock High School—2nd Place
Class 2A Lake Mills High School—1st Place
Osage High School—2nd Place
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura—3rd Place
Class 3A Forest City High School—1st Place
Clear Lake High School--2nd Place
Parade Awards
Grand Marshal Award—
(presented to the overall winner with the best use of the festival theme “Totally 80s”)
Johnson Financial Services—1st Place
NIVC Services—2nd Place
Smithfield—3rd Place
Mr. Toot Award—
(presented to the entry with the most originality, artistic quality, and well-crafted design based on a theme of their choice)
MacNider Art Museum—1st place
Vietnam Veterans—2nd Place
D&D Haunted Hike—3rd Place
The North Iowa Band Festival is sponsored each year by the Mason City Chamber of Commerce to honor of the region’s musical heritage. Corporate donations and the volunteer efforts of scores of people enable the Chamber to offer the festival as a FREE family-friendly event for all North Iowans to enjoy.
An outdoor community church service will be held at 9AM on Sunday, May 27 at Trinity Lutheran Church. The carnival and concessions continue beginning at noon on both Sunday and Monday in Downtown Mason City. The carnival will hold “Wrist Band Days” both days, providing unlimited rides for $20 each day.