By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
The Geneseo Harvest Time Music Festival will kick off a weekend of activities with the 34th annual Maple leaf Marching Band Classic on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Geneseo High School.
The two-day festival concludes Sunday, Sept. 22, with festivities in Geneseo City Park.
The Maple Leaf Marching Band Competition takes center stage from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, with area high school bands competing for top honors.
Public is invited to the competition featuring high school bands from Orion, ROWVA, El Paso-Gridley, Streator, Monmouth,-Roseville, Rock Falls, Kewanee, Macomb, Dunlap, Rochelle, UTHS, Limestone, Davenport Central, Quincy, Rock Island and Washington.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 students and senior citizens.
Geneseo Middle School Band students will perform the introduction and The Sound of Geneseo High School Marching Band (The Sound of Geneseo (TSOG) will perform in exhibition.
The University of Wisconsin Marching Band will perform at the conclusion of the evening.
From noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, in Geneseo City Park, or at the high school if it rains, activities will include pork chop sandwiches and concessions, available from noon to 5 p.m., with karaoke and music from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m.
The seventh-and eighth-grade choirs will perform at 1 p.m., with high school choirs at 2 p.m. Choirs representing grades 4-12 will present the grand finale at 4:30 p.m., with songs connected to this year’s theme, “Give My Regards to Broadway.”
A talent show of students is from 3 to 4 p.m.
Also on Sept. 22, a silent auction will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. with winners announced at 4 p.m. Raffle drawings will begin at 4 p.m. for large raffle items and conclude with smaller raffle items.
First prize includes one year of free groceries form Geneseo Fareway; second prize is a Safe and Smart Home Bundle (Generator, Ring Doorbell System, Google Smart Home Starter Kit, Roomba) sponsored by the Clifton Agency, Inc., and locally owned businesses; third prize is an Outdoor Entertainment Bundle (Patio Furniture Set, Wi-Fi Enabled Ice Maker) sponsored by locally owned and operated businesses.
Tickets for raffle items are $10 each, five for $40, and are available at the festival and from band and choir members. Raffle tickets also are available to purchase online through the GPAC website: geneseoarts.com. Online tickets may be purchased until 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.
The annual two-day Harvest Time Music Festival is sponsored by Geneseo Performing Arts Council (GPAC) and proceeds benefit Geneseo band, choir and drama students.