University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band to close out QHS 28th annual Octoberfest competition Saturday

QUINCY — The 28th Octoberfest Invitational Parade and Field Competition will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19.

Twenty-five marching bands from Illinois, Missouri and Iowa will begin at 30th and Maine and travel west, ending at Quincy Junior High School at 14th and Maine. Bands will present their competition selections at the judges’ stand across from Madison Park.

After the parade, bands will travel to Flinn Memorial Stadium, at 44th and Maine. The opening ceremony at 3:45 p.m. will be presented by the Quincy High School Marching Blue Devil Band, QHS Colorguard, Q-City Pommers and the QJHS Concert Band. The field competition will begin at 4 p m. Bands will perform their half-time shows for adjudication by a panel of judges. The Marching Blue Devils, directed by Jeff Duffy, will perform an exhibition at the end of the competition.

A special guest performance by the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band will conclude the evening.

Awards will be presented for outstanding performances at the conclusion of the evening competition. Memorial awards to be presented are the Ragan Knapheide Award for Outstanding Percussion, the James Burns Award for Outstanding Brass, the Charles Heidbreder Memorial Drum Major award, the Todd Slater Memorial Spirit award, the Randy Hoover Outstanding Soloist award and the Paul Duker Memorial award.

The price for tickets for the field competition are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets can be bought online and also at the gate. Concessions will be available all day.