The Kansas State Fair high school marching band program is one of the great, long-standing traditions of the Fair. This program started as far back as the 1960's. Fair-goers love watching the bands as they march by in cadence around the fairgrounds. In 2025, 100 High School and Middle School bands participated, with close to 4,000 band students in attendance. We are hoping that 2026 will bring out even more schools, helping us get to our largest participation numbers.
We encourage all middle and high school bands across the state of Kansas to participate in this program. This is a great opportunity for your band to demonstrate their musical talent as well as showcase their hard work and team effort. This performance early in the season gives your band a wonderful chance to benefit from the judge’s ratings and comments before any state competitions.
Bands will march a parade route on the Fairgrounds and have the additional opportunity to perform in the Peoples Bank and Trust Arena. (See map below). Marching will be on September 14th, 15th and 16th (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) with judging occurring on all days. All bands that participate will receive a rosette with their rating, which in most cases is available for pick up before leaving the fair. In addition, those bands that receive a I+ will also receive a banner of their accomplishment.
FAIRGROUNDS MARCHING & ARENA PERFORMANCE:
- Directors do NOT need to provide musical scores for the judges.
- Three judges will adjudicate bands at each performance area.
- Marching Performance
- Each band should lead with a banner or sign displaying the school’s name to allow the judges to identify the band.
- Judges will be positioned along 20th Avenue in front of the Prairie Pavilion.
- Bands should begin playing at the Birthing Center (Ft. Scott Blvd) and continue playing until the band has completely passed the Prairie Pavillion.
- Bands should stop playing at Gate 1/Gottschalk Park. This will ensure the performances at the Arena are not interrupted by approaching bands. Bands may continue marching to the arena with taps from the drumline.
- To receive a rating and adjudication, bands must play and march to a complete song. Bands marching only to a cadence will not receive a rating for their marching performance.
- Arena Performance
- Judges will be seated in the middle section of the stands and near the top.
- Adjudication begins when bands march into the arena and continues until the band has completely left the area. Bands should use a cadence or taps to enter and exit the arena.
- Bands are expected to perform two musical selections. To provide an authentic and representative adjudication, judges need to hear two musical selections. If only one selection is performed, the band's final rating will be reduced by one full rating.
- Marching and Arena Performances will be adjudicated using the updated adjudication forms below.
- Adjudication sheets and awards can be picked up at the Kansas State Fair Administration office after 1 pm on your performance day. Any awards not picked up will be mailed to the school as soon as possible.
ADMISSION: Monday is Dollar Day at the Kansas State Fair. Gate admission on this day will only be $1.00 each person. A specially priced $3.00 gate ticket is available to those participating in the Marching Band Program on Tuesday, and Wednesday. For every four students, a teacher/sponsor/chaperone/bus driver may get in free. All bands must check in at the Fairgrounds outside of Gate 9 for entrance. When paying by check, we require that one (1) check be made out to the KANSAS STATE FAIR to pay for the gate tickets. All bands entering the Fairgrounds must have pre-paid or have payment with them upon check-in.
Fair admission tickets are required to participate in this marching event.
This is a KSHSAA sanctioned and professionally judged competition, therefore, any band wishing to march and/or perform in the arena and not stay for a day at the Fair will be charged a $40.00 entry fee. This will enable your group to enter the Fairgrounds to be judged on their performance, receive the judges comments and earn the appropriate award. Any parents/spectators wishing to watch your students will be required to purchase a gate ticket.
SCHEDULING: Every effort will be made to schedule your time preference indicated on the registration form. Bands will be assigned a 30-minute window in which to arrive, allowing for more flexibility with travel time to Hutchinson. Once you arrive, make sure students are suited up and then head to the staging location. From there, bands will be lined up and sent along the parade route.
The 2026 parade on the Fairgrounds is scheduled between 8:00 am - noon on Monday, 8:00 am - 11:00 am on Tuesday, and 8:00 am - noon on Wednesday. All timeslots are first come, first serve so be sure to register as soon as you are able to. Last year, our Wednesday schedule filled up quickly, followed closely by our Monday schedule.
PARKING: All bus parking will be in Lot C, which is on the east side of the Fairgrounds off of 23rd Street. (See Fairgrounds map below) Please enter the Fairgrounds parking area on 23rd St. between Plum St. and Severance St. Fairgrounds personnel will direct and park the buses in a designated area. Please inform your bus driver(s) they must follow parking personnel directions so that we can utilize space and make departure pleasant and unhindered.
Equipment vehicles and/or oversized instruments can pick up a temporary parking pass for Gate 2 which will allow one vehicle to enter and unload right next to People's Bank and Trust Arena. Once the band is finished with their arena performance, the equipment can then be packed back up, and the vehicle can head back to the staging area to return the parking pass and park the vehicle in Lot C. If you will require use of a pass, please indicate on the registration form or email Melissa Blake, melissa.blake@ks.gov.
Students should unload in Lot C and proceed in uniform when ready to Gate 9 where Kansas State Fair personnel will help you line up. If your tickets have not been pre-paid, this is also where you will pay. Bands will line up along Plum St. facing to the south
Bands will be directed by Kansas State Fair personnel, marching from Gate 9 on 20th Ave through the Fairgrounds to People's Bank and Trust Arena, for an optional performance. Please note there is a quiet zone as you pass the sheep and swine barns, with play resuming as you approach the birthing center. The marching route continues on Ft. Leavenworth Blvd. to 23rd Ave and out Gate 8. Bands will be marching through the Fairgrounds for the Fair patrons. Please be prepared to march and play or march to a drum cadence. Bands must check in at Gate 9 by 11:00 to receive their entrance hand stamp and band packet.
Due to the number of bands performing, all performances in the arena will be limited to two musical selections. If the National Anthem is played, this will count as one of your two musical selections.
Restrooms are available before & after your performance. Water will be available at People's Bank and Trust Arena.
If your students forget/lose/need money for lunch, their parents may call the Ticket Office (620-669-3618) and purchase food and/or ride tickets with a credit card. The student then can pick them up at the Ticket Office, which is located on the southwest side of the Administration Building.
If you experience travel delays and will arrive late to your Fairgrounds performance, please notify Melissa Blake at the Kansas State Fair at 620-669-3600.
Bands are given a 30-minute window at which to start playing. If you are looking to hear one particular band, please see the schedule below. Check back before the fair for any last-minute additions.