The traditional band festival was a success

On Saturday, Oct. 3, music lovers from the Pittsburgh area came to Bethel Park’s Black hawk Stadium for their 47th annual band festival. There were a variety of bands with outstanding performances that left the crowd speechless.

Bethel Park played a variety of tunes. Band director Mr. Thompson said, “We did the pregame entrance, which is the “Bethel Fanfare,” “Bethel  Victory March,” and then the “Victor’s March,” which is the University of Michigan fight song. Then after that, we played the “Bethel Park Alma Mater,” then “America the Beautiful,” then Top 21 sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” and then we played “Touchdown,” which finished the pregame show. Then our halftime show, our opener was “We’re an American Band.” Then we did show one, which is “Mambo,” and then a medley of tunes from Wicked, which was “Dancing Through Life” and “Defying Gravity.” Show two was “House of the Rising Sun” and “All Along the Watchtower.” And then we concluded with Hot Time Bethel Victory.”

Other performing bands included South Park, Quaker Valley, Belle Vernon, South Fayette, and Upper St. Clair. The Bethel Park drumline also performed.

People in the crowd were able to buy food from the concession stand or from the bake sale. They were also able to purchase 50/50 tickets, and buy candygrams for their favorite band members.

When asked what his favorite part of the band festival was, Mr. Thompson said, “My favorite part of the band festival is watching the students react to the other bands, both positively and negatively, because I think it helps reinforce why we do the things that we do, and you also have the opportunity to learn from other bands when the band see them do something cool or something that’s really neat.”

This season, the marching band has also attended the North Hills Band Festival. They also perform their halftime shows at each football game, and march in local parades. These are events one would not want to miss out on.

Overall, the band festival is something that the whole community enjoys. It is a night of fun and traditions that will continue for a very long time.