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It was truly “Chamber of Commerce Weather” as the 84th North Iowa Band Festival parade marched through Mason City. This year’s Band Festival King and Queen were Nolan Balk from Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School and Catherine Dow from Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock High School.
Perennial marching band powerhouse Lake Mills High School claimed the Meredith Willson Sweepstakes prize, which is awarded to the high school marching band with the overall highest score. The Festival’s newest honor, the Spirit of Meredith Willson Award, was given to Central Springs High School for exemplifying great enthusiasm, devotion, and honor. As host schools for the event, Mason City High School and Newman Catholic 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.
In the float competition, CURRIES employees received top honors in the Grand Marshal Award competition for their celebration of the All-America Band Festival, creatively using the commercial steel doors and frames they make at the local plant.
Award Winners:
Marching Bands
- Class 1A: Northwood-Kensett High School
- Class 2A: Lake Mills
- Class 3A: Forest City
Parade Competition
Grand Marshal Award— (presented to the parade entry with the best use of the festival theme “All-American Band Festival”)
- CURRIES—1st Place
- Nettleton Dental—2nd Place
- Window World of Mason City—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 of America—2nd Place
- Clear Lake Bank & Trust, First Citizens Bank (tie)—3rd Place
An outdoor community church service will be held at 9AM on Sunday, May 28 at Trinity Lutheran Church. The carnival and concessions will open at noon on both Sunday and Monday in Downtown Mason City. The carnival will hold “Wrist Band Days” on both days, providing unlimited rides for $20 each day.
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 free event for all to enjoy.
