Mountaineer Classic Marching Festival

2025 Mountaineer Classic Marching Festival Date:

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Mountaineer Classic Marching Festival

Judges & Clinicians

• • Rob Babel

  • Corey Seapy

  • Mark Martin

  • CG Judge TBA

  • Percussion Judge TBA

  • Melissia Goff (Band Clinician)

  • Michael Oglesby (Band Clinician)

  • Isabel Bearden (Guard Clinician)

  • 1 more Guard Clinician TBA

Overview

• $285 entry fee.

• Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Mt. Vernon High School in Mt. Vernon, MO.

• 9AM start time. Depending on the amount of bands attending, we normally finish in the 4-6PM range.

• A second Google Form (different than the Entry Form) will be sent in August to gather band information. This information will be used to place bands into classes (based on total # of performing members), gather program information, bus/trailer numbers, and more.

Format & Performance Logistics

• The Mountaineer Classic Marching Festival is meant to be an educational, informative, and primarily evaluative festival. At its current state, this festival is a prelims-only format.

• Bands are placed in classes based on their total number of performing members. Bands will be divided into 4 categories (2026: we may have 5 classes depending on the gap between bands, mainly for our larger bands).

  • • Class A = fewest number of performing numbers

    • Class B = bands larger than A

    • Class C = bands larger than B

    • Class D = bands larger than C

• Performance order within each class is based on participation in last year’s festival, and then placement from the previous year. New bands will be placed via their entry date (earliest entry will go later, latest entry will go earlier).

• All bands will have student band guides to escort them through their warmup, performance, and clinic. Band guides will find you 15 minutes before your assigned warmup time.

• We have two warm-up areas. There will be no markings on the warmup fields for marching.

• Each band will have a twenty minute slot to enter the field, perform, and exit the field.

• If you have special needs concerning towing, please let us know as soon as possible. We have an outlet and extension cord available at the front of the field for your sound system should you need it.

• Each band will have a twenty minute clinic after their performance (see schedule for clinician and location). There will be one Band clinician and one Color Guard clinician for each band.

• Each band will receive a recording with comments from all judges as well as written scoring, feedback, and a video of their performance. These will be uploaded into a Google Drive folder for each band. Each Director will also receive a printed score/recap sheet and judges copies following awards.

Logistics

• Upon arrival (see map), you will be handed your Directors Packet, and then parking attendants will direct you where to park*. Plan on your trailer being near your buses unless you make arrangements prior. *Each ascending number (ex: “Band Parking 4”) is the general order in which we will place bands as they arrive.

• Wristbands for band directors, band staff, and bus drivers will be in the Director's Packet upon entrance (see map). 1 extra wristband per 10 performing members will also be included in the director’s packet.

• Band directors and bus drivers will receive a complimentary meal ticket in the Director’s Packet. There will be a concession stand open with a variety of items available. There will also be a hospitality room for band directors and bus drivers in the Agriculture Building (see map).

• There is an eight dollar admission fee ($8) for each attendee. Students/ages 65+ are $5, and ages 3 and under are free.

• T-shirts and other apparel will be available for purchase at the Screenmasters booth.

• High-Notes will be available at the High-Note booth for $1.

• Digital programs will be available via QR Code.

• B. Johnson Photography will be present. They will post pictures online for purchase following the event.

• There will be an instrument repair tent set up outside of the performer entrance/exit, provided by Palen Music.

• This event will take place rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, a weather delay will be announced.

• All invoices must be paid before step-off.

Awards

• Trophies will be presented to all participating bands in each division.

• Each class will be awarded the following Caption Awards: Outstanding General Effect, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Visual, Outstanding Percussion, Outstanding Auxiliary, Outstanding Drum Major, and Outstanding Soloist.

• We will also have a “People’s Choice Award.” There will be a jar out for every performing band. Attendees/bands/spectators can place money into whichever jar they choose. Whichever band's jar has the most money before awards begin is awarded the “People’s Choice Award.”

Judges Sheets