QHS Octoberfest parade and field show set for Saturday

The 25th QHS Octoberfest Invitational Parade and Field Competition will be held Saturday. Marching bands from Illinois, Missouri and Iowa will travel down Quincy’s Maine Street beginning at 2 p.m. The parade will begin at 30th and Maine streets and continue west to Quincy Junior High at 14th and Maine.

Area and traveling marching bands will present their competition selections for the judge’s stand located at 25th and Maine Streets. After the parade, the bands will travel to Flinn Stadium at 44th and Maine, where the field competition will begin at 5 p.m. after an opening ceremony presented by the Quincy High Marching Blue Devil Band, QHS Colorguard and Q-City Pommers.

During the field competition, marching bands will present their halftime presentations for adjudication by a panel of judges. Awards will be presented for musicianship and overall enrollment at the conclusion of the competition. Memorial Awards will be presented during the evening event including 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.

Participating bands this year are Clark County R-1 High School, Troy Buchanan High School, Fort Madison High School, Auburn High School, Quincy Notre Dame High School, Schuyler-Industry CUSD-5, Mark Twain Junior High, Fort Zumwalt High School, Pattonville R-3, and Canton R-V High School.

The Marching Blue Devils, directed by Matthew Gabriel, will perform in exhibition at the end of the competition. Chairpersons Dr. Todd Pettit, Susan Gabel and Kathleen Dooley are coordinating event.

Tickets for the field competition are $10 for adults and $7 for students at the Flinn Stadium gate.