The Cook County High School band has been taking its show on the road, practicing as a marching band in recent weeks in preparation for its appearance at the Bayfield Apple Festival parade on Sunday, October 9. After performing as the CCHS band, they will return to the start to play as part of a 600-member marching band.
Motorists passing Cook County High School in recent weeks have been met with a traffic jam—and a preview of the 50th annual Bayfield Apple Festival Parade! The Cook County High School band has been invited to participate in the Apple Festival Parade and under direction of Band Leader Kerri Bilben, they have been marching up and down the streets around the Grand Marais campus.
Bilben took a break on Tuesday, October 4, from marching, chasing, cheering on and coaching the band to explain that she grew up in Bayfield. She got an e-mail from Apple Festival organizers inviting her to bring the CCHS band to the parade. She ran it by the band students who agreed it would be an interesting challenge.
It has been a challenge, said Bilben. “They play music all the time. But they say this is much harder. It’s not just walking— it’s a lot more physical than that.”
Bilben said the band will first march as the CCHS band, as one of 90 units in the parade. At the parade on Sunday, October 9, they will be playing Louie, Louie and Land of 1,000 Dances. Then they will return to the start and join members of other bands to form a huge band of 600 musicians. In honor of the Apple Festival’s 50th anniversary, the marching band of many bands will perform Stars and Stripes Forever.
The 56-member CCHS band does not have uniforms—they will wear their Viking blue “Property of CCHS Band” sweatshirts and black jeans. They also don’t have a budget for travel. They are heading down and back, to keep expenses of the trip down, but Bilben said it still costs $900 for the bus trip. Bilben said any help with covering the cost would be greatly appreciated.
“It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” said Bilben. “They will be performing in front of 30,000 people!”
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