Dear General Lea,

We have attended Neewollah once before, but this year my granddaughter is marching in one of the bands coming in for the marching contest.  Could you give me some information about it?  I’m bringing my mother, too.

Thanks!
Missy’s mamma

Dear “Mamma,”

You are in for a special treat if you attend the marching festival held in Shulthis Stadium (football arena) at  Riverside Park on Saturday after our Grand Parade.

All the bands that march in the parade may also enter the contest at the stadium. That way, the bands which attend Neewollah may be judged on their street performances as well as their field marching. We usually have 20-25 bands from Kansas and surrounding states in the competition and would take more if time would allow.   Judges knowledgeable in marching and instrumental music are hired to judge the events.  I love to watch the judges writing and recording their verbal critiques as the bands dance and entertain their way past the bandstand.  It’s amazing!

The festival was begun in 1978 as the brain child of Don Farthing, long-time Independence High School band director, when marching contests were limited. As a result, it is the longest continuously running marching festival in Kansas and well respected throughout the area. The bands compete for grand champion trophies as well as being given awards based on a rating system of a I, II, or III.  Trophies are also awarded for outstanding color guard, drum line, and drum majors.

Watching those young people show off their fantastic marching routines in their colorful uniforms, with the twirlers, drums, drum majors, and color guards all moving in marked precision is definitely an extravaganza like no other.  To think how many hours of toil by those students, boosters, parents, teachers, bus drivers, and administrators brought  those kids to our town to compete, is mind boggling!  Enjoy your day with us and good luck to your band. Check out our website for more information.

If you “locals” haven’t yet experienced the marching contest, please put it into this year’s Neewollah schedule.  At 1:30p.m. all yellow buses head to the park and so should you!

Sincerely,
General Lea