San Diego County’s largest high school marching band contest returns Saturday

Attention music fans – the 48th annual Mt. Carmel Tournament of Bands, San Diego County’s largest high school marching band competition, will take place Saturday at Mt. Carmel High School in Rancho Peñasquitos.

The tournament will feature 38 marching bands and more than 1,600 student performers from across Southern California in both parade and field show categories.

The event is the school music program’s largest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit Mt. Carmel Music Foundation to support band, color guard and orchestra programs.

Field shows by small bands begin at 8 a.m. in Sundevil Stadium, followed by a free parade band review at 11:45 a.m. in the school parking lot. The parking lot will be closed to the public, so attendees should park in surrounding neighborhoods.

Large band field shows start at 2:45 p.m. and the evening will conclude with special performances by San Diego State University and United States Marine Corps marching bands.

Food, drink and merchandise concessions will be available throughout the event.

Admission is $15 for students, seniors and military, $20 for general adult entry and $35 for reserved adult seating. Children 5 and under are free. Tickets for general and reserved seating may be purchased in advance or on the day of the event.

Sponsors of the current battle of bands program include The Tanakaya Family, US Marine Corps in the 12th District, Jimbo’s, Bertrand’s Music & Lessons and more.

For more information, go to www.mchsmusic.org/tournament.