Band festivals highlight fall schedule
Autumn means crisp evenings, Friday night football and, for the musically inclined, high school band festivals.
The parade of pageantry kicks off Sept. 21 with the Festival of Bands at South Fayette stadium. The Little Green Machine Marching Band is celebrating its 77th year in a big way with a dozen appearances by local ensembles. In addition to the host Lions, Thomas Jefferson, Blackhawk, Avella, Cornell, Keystone Oaks, Upper St. Clair, Montour and Hopewell will be featured in this year’s cavalcade of bands.
Musical performances start at 7 p.m.
Starting at 6 p.m. an array of food trucks will be on site. Providing meals and treats for purchase will be Hott Dawgz, Hot Bunz, Wood Stoked Oven and Wu’s Shaved Ice.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.
In addition to the band festival, South Fayette will be hosting its annual homecoming carnival from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the high school stadium.
Admission is free.
In addition to carnival games, there will be a bounce house, obstacle course, dunk tank and a performance by the Little Green Machine at 8 p.m.
Among the food trucks on site will be Totopo, Pittsburgh Halal, R&G Smokeshack, PittsBurgers, Hibachi Lou, Kona Ice, Millie’s, Frio Pops and Travelin’s Tom’s Coffee.
The event is sponsored by the South Fayette Student Government Association.
Peters Township will co-host a band festival at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium, located at 264 East McMurray Rd. Gates open at 6 p.m.
The Mighty Indian Marching Band will be featured. Other performing bands include: Beth-Center, Brentwood, Charleroi, Charters-Houston, Fort Cherry, Keystone Oaks, Montour, Peters Township and California.
The Bethel Park band festival will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at the high school stadium.
Among the other performing bands will be Belle Vernon, Pine-Richland, Plum, Seton LaSalle and South Allegheny.
Visit bpmusicboosters.com/band-festival-20469 to pre-order tickets, purchase candy grams or buy a limited edition band festival t-shirt.
The Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils Marching Band will host the Tournament of Bands Region 8 competition on Sept. 28 at the high school. Additionally, the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devil Marching Band PIMBA Competition will be held Oct. 12.
Visit leboband.com for times, ticket prices and more details.