Luverne Public School’s custodial staff will be honored Saturday as the parade marshals for the 65th annual Tri-State Band Festival in Luverne.
Some of the 11 honorees won’t be able to participate because they will be working the event.
“Throughout the day of the competition, they are on call to provide assistance, creatively solve problems and support the needs of the committee, bands and public,” the Tri-State Band Festival Committee wrote in an announcement about the 2015 parade marshals.
“They do so with the upmost professionalism, attention to detail and respect to the operation.”
Festival organizers expect 1,500 to 2,000 student participants at Saturday’s event, some arriving as early as 7 a.m. for the morning parade and afternoon field competition events, said Jane Wildung Lanphere, Luverne Area Chamber director.
The custodians will be some of the people at the school that will greet students as they prepare for competition.
Field preparations, cleanup during and after the event at the school campus and emergency fixes have often fallen into the hands of the custodians.
“Something always breaks,” Lanphere added.
Traditionally, parade marshals selected by the Tri-State Band Festival Committee were members of the committee, but in recent years the selection possibilities have expanded into the community.
“It takes a community to put it (the festival) on,” Lanphere said.
The parade competition begins at 9:30 a.m. on Main Street in downtown Luverne. Nineteen schools will perform on the parade route.
The field competition begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Cardinal Football Field at the Luverne Public School campus, 709 N. Kniss Ave or Highway 75. Thirteen bands are registered to compete on the field.
Admission to the field competition is a $5 band festival button, available for purchase at the event. Booklets featuring information on the competing bands will also be available for $5.