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 21 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 B and will perform at 7:15 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 is scheduled to take the field at 9:51 p.m., prior to the final awards ceremony.

Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for senior citizens and students.

The gates will open at 3:30 p.m., with competition set to commence at 4:13 p.m..
The event is expected to continue until approximately 10:30 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:
4:13 p.m. — Bremen
4:26 p.m. — Eastside
4:39 p.m. — Adams Central

Class C:
4:52 p.m. — Belmont
5:05 p.m. — Garrett
5:18 p.m. — Heritage
5:31 p.m. — Woodlan
5:44 p.m. — Angola
5:57 p.m. — Concordia

Awards:
6:23 p.m. — Class D and C awards will take place after a short break at the end of Class C competition.

Class B:
7:15 p.m. — Norwell
7:28 p.m. — Wayne
7:41 p.m. — New Haven
7:54 p.m. — South Side
8:07 p.m. — Bishop Dwenger
8:20 p.m. — Columbia City
8:33 p.m. — Dekalb

Class A:
8:46 p.m. — Huntington North
8:59 p.m. — Carroll
9:12 p.m. — Northrop
9:25 p.m. — Snider
9:38 p.m. — Homestead

Exhibition:
10:51 p.m. — Bluffton

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