Bluffton Hosts "On The Banks of the Wabash" Saturday

It’s marching band season once again!

 

And in Bluffton, that means its time for the annual “On The Banks of the Wabash” spectacular at Fred Park Stadium.

 

A total of 20 bands will compete in four classes this year, with the event sponsored by the Bluffton Band Boosters, and is their biggest fundraising event of the year. 

 

The Indiana State School Music Association organizes marching band contests into four classes (A, B, C, and D) with A being for the largest schools. 

 

The Norwell Marching Knights compete in Class C and will perform at 7:19 p.m. this year. 

 

The Bluffton Bengal Brigade competes in Class D but as host school, will only be giving an exhibition performance Saturday. The Bengal Brigade (led by Shelby Sark - left, in the picture above - and Katie Thompson) is scheduled to take the field at 10:21 p.m., prior to the final awards ceremony. 

 

Admission is $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for senior citizens and students. Admission is free for Bluffton students. 

 

The gates will open at 3:30 p.m., with competition set to commence at 4:30 p.m., after a short 9/11 commemoration ceremony.

 

The event is expected to continue until approximately 11 p.m. 

 

Concessions will be available at Fred Park Stadium as well as at the middle school. Spectators are encouraged to park at the middle school. Spectator parking will not be allowed in any high school parking lot due to the use of those lots for participating band buses and trailers.

 

The competing bands and their performance times are:

Class D: 

4:43 p.m. — Hicksville 

4:56 p.m. — Eastside

5:09 p.m. — Eastern

5:22 p.m. – Adams Central

5:35 p.m. — Woodlan

 

Class C: 

6:01 p.m. — Wayne

6:14 p.m. — New Haven

6:27 p.m. — Garrett

6:40 p.m. — Bishop Dwenger

6:53 p.m. — Heritage

7:06 p.m. — Concordia

7:19 p.m. — Norwell

 

Awards:

Class D & C awards will take place at the conclusion of Class C. 

 

Class B: 

8:37 p.m. — East Noble

8:50 p.m. — Columbia City

9:03 p.m. — DeKalb

 

Class A: 

9:16 p.m. — Huntington North

9:29 p.m. — Northrop

9:42 p.m. — Snider

9:55 p.m. — Carroll

10:08 p.m. — Homestead

 

Exhibition:

10:21 p.m. — Bluffton

 

Awards:

Class A and Class B awards will be presented after the exhibition performance by Bluffton High School’s Bengal Brigade.