Strike up the bands in Wheaton this weekend
Fans of brass, concert and military bands can get their musical fill for free this weekend in Wheaton.
Five bands are scheduled take the stage as part of the 10th annual Wheaton Band Festival. The free two-night festival will kick off Friday with a 7:15 p.m. concert by the Chicago Brass Band in the band shell at Memorial Park, near Hale and Karlskoga streets in downtown Wheaton.
"I think it's the strongest roster of bands that we've ever had," said Glenn Arnold, the festival's president and founder.
Mark Ridenour, a trumpeter with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is expected to play three solos during the Chicago Brass Band performance.
Then at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Grand Avenue Big Band will give audience members a reason to dance when it performs various hit songs from the 1940s.
Saturday's evening of music will begin at 6 p.m. with a concert by the Fox Valley Concert Band. The Geneva-based all-volunteer band has performed in the festival every year since the annual tradition started.
The award-winning Joliet American Legion Band will take the Wheaton festival stage for the first time at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. Founded in 1946, the band performs a variety of music, including patriotic marches, show tunes and contemporary pieces.
Closing the festival is the Navy Band Great Lakes, which is set to perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Between the live performances, an instrument petting zoo for children will be set up at the Memorial Park gazebo. Children will be allowed to pick up and ask questions about various musical instruments, such as trombones, trumpets and drums.
If you own a band or orchestra instrument you no longer use, festival organizers will be accepting donations of musical instruments for the Salvation Army's youth music program.
Arnold organized the first Wheaton Band Festival in July 2000 to help introduce residents to community bands.
"We were just hoping to have one successful concert at first," he said. "It progressed from there."
For more information about the festival, visit wheatonbandfestival.org.
If you go
What: Wheaton Band Festival
When: 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton
Admission: Free
Info: wheatonbandfestival.org