Broken Bow band students at the 2023 UNK Band Day, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY – A long-standing Kearney tradition returns this weekend.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney will host its 65th annual Band Day Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. A staple of the fall marching season, 28 middle and high school bands will join the UNK Pride of the Plains for the event in downtown Kearney.
The parade route begins at 21st Street and Third Avenue, follows Third Avenue south to Railroad Street, heads east to Central Avenue, then turns north before ending at the intersection of Central Avenue and 24th Street.
UNK Band Day is a celebration of music that showcases programs from across Nebraska and serves as preparation for the Oct. 5 Harvest of Harmony Parade and Field Competition in Grand Island. The top three bands in each class will receive trophies for parade marching, with additional trophies awarded to the outstanding drum line and color guard and overall champion.
Following the UNK Band Day awards ceremony, bands will participate in the Bearcat Marching Festival at Kearney High School. That event provides a “comments only” clinic format, where bands receive feedback about their field performances in advance of formal competitions later in the fall.
UNK Band Day Participants (listed in order of performance)
UNK Pride of the Plains Marching Band
Horizon and Sunrise Middle Schools
Faith Christian
Cozad Middle School
Ogallala Middle School
Lexington Middle School
Axtell
Wilcox-Hildreth
Arcadia
Kenesaw
Overton
North Platte St. Patrick’s
Parkview Christian
Amherst
Elm Creek
Grand Island Central Catholic
Gibbon
Wood River
Ord
Doniphan-Trumbull
Centura
Broken Bow
Arapahoe
Ravenna
Holdrege
Kearney Catholic
Hastings
Grand Island
Kearney High
