Wayland High School, first the first time in its history, will be host this year for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) district festival Tuesday afternoon and evening, Oct. 10.

The event will feature several area high school bands that will be adjudicated based on music, marching and overall effect. This ticketed event will be open to the community. Performances will take place at Ron Stehouwer Stadium.

Because it is customary for the host band to play at the conclusion of the festival, Wayland is very likely to perform at 8:45 p.m. The first band will take the field at 6 p.m.

This year’s Wayland Union High School marching band show is titled, “Are We There Yet?!” It’s a family-oriented show about those long car trips to various destinations with in a family vacation. 

Wayland Band Director Kelli Smith said, “I wanted a show that would give us, as a band family, a strong connection to each other. I also wanted to be able to connect with our audience on a familial level, and what better way to do that than through music that almost everyone will know?”

Show titles include “Holiday” by Green Day, “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver.

The Wayland band will perform at all home varsity football games and three marching band invitationals around West Michigan.