Luverne hosts 70th Tri-State Band Festival

Luverne’s 70th Annual Tri-State Band Festival returns to Main Street and Cardinal Field Saturday after a pandemic year off in 2020.
The 2021 lineup features 23 participating bands, with 17 competing in parade performances and 11 marching on the field.
The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. with the route heading east on Main Street and judging at the corner of Main Street and McKenzie.
Parade Marshal honorees this year are members of the Band Festival Committee, a team of volunteers that organizes and operates the event each year.
Current members are chair Scott Loosbrock, vice chair Eric Hartman, Cheryl Hartman, Caitlin Hartman, Dale Nelson, Eugene and Janet Marshall, James Jarvie, Janet Slieter, Jason Berghorst, Julia Ferguson, Karen Roberts, Knute Oldre, Kristi Groth, Rachel Renken, Sharon Rockman, Shawn Kinsinger, Susan Skattum, Teresa Kinsinger and Tyler LeBrun.
Afternoon field competition begins at 12:30 p.m. with the Luverne High School marching band playing the National Anthem.
The parade awards ceremony is at 1:30 p.m. and field awards are presented after the 4 p.m. guest performance.
The guest marching band this year is the Maverick  “Machine” Athletic Band from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Luverne, as the host band, doesn’t compete for points; it marches as an exhibition performance.
Now in its 70th year, Luverne’s Tri-State Band Festival is the longest-running marching band festival in the region. 
The annual parade and field competition draws bands from Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota with more than 2,500 students participating.
See the Luverne Area Chamber website, www.luvernchamber.com for details.