The 35th annual ISSMA Marching Band season steps off with District Festivals Saturday at seven Indiana sites, and two non-competitive festival sites on Oct. 6.
About 173 high school bands with more than 16,000 students will participate in these performances sponsored annually by the Indiana State School Music Association Inc. and sponsor The Indiana Dairy Farmers.
Those bands reaching a predetermined score at district will advance to regional events held at four locations Oct. 13. Bands enter in Class A, B, C and D according to the size of school with Class A being the largest.
At each regional site, the top five scoring bands in each of the four classes from the North and South will meet at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis Oct. 20 to determine the four state champion bands.
