The North Iowa Band Festival starts its three-day run in Mason City tonight (Friday) with a variety of concerts and the big parade on Saturday. Fest coordinator Vance Baird says a pair of bands recognized by the Iowa and Minnesota Rock and Roll Halls of Fame will get the entertainment underway tonight (Friday).
Baird says the big event will be on Saturday morning with a parade that has drawn nearly 80-thousand people to Mason City every year. He says there are about 150 entries in the parade, although one entry in particular is exceptionally large — and loud.
The parade starts with a salute to America and there’ll be 76 trombones marching down the street. For more information and a schedule of events, you can look on the North Iowa Band Festival’s website at “www.nibandfest.com”.