The 12-hour music extravaganza at the school's West campus featured 25 bands from Illinois and Wisconsin competing in what for many is the kickoff event of the marching band season. The Lake Park High School marching band also performed an exhibition set.

"This is a pretty big competition to get things going, so we want to get off to a good start in points," said Herscher High School Marching Tiger Tiffany Maroney after performing the Tigers' show, "Dreams of the Inner Child." "It's also fun to watch the other shows and see what these other guys have up their sleeves for the season."

Elk Grove High School Thundering Herd mom Margaret Roup said the event is a long day but the constant lineup of marching bands makes it easy to stay entertained.

"A friend who doesn't have kids in band asked me how we can have time to sit through these long events," she said. "But it's really entertaining, especially as you get to know all the musicians and the other schools' routines."

Lake Park's competition is one of the first in the region, and it's modeled after the Bands of America national competition. Many bands that participate move on to compete at the state and national levels.

The event serves as Lake Park's largest fundraiser for its marching band. It's been known to generate about $15,000 for uniforms, instruments and travel expenses.