Arcadia Festival of Bands (AFOB), one of the largest and longest-running band reviews, is a community-wide “all hands on deck” event. This year marks its 71st annual celebration, taking place on Saturday, Nov. 23. Supported by Arcadia Music Club members, alumni, and the community, this event will include the annual parade, percussion competition, awards ceremonies, and field show events across multiple locations. The Arcadia Marching Band plans to perform “Cyrus the Great” on Nov. 23 as their final piece for the school year.

“I think the Arcadia Festival of Bands is a great time for all the middle schools and the high school to come together and perform for everyone,” said Freshman Trombonist Anderson Huang.

This year, the Arcadia High School Marching Band and Color Guard along with Dana Middle School, First Ave Middle School, and Foothills Middle School, will compete with more than 40 Southern California bands. The festival will begin with the Band Review at 9 a.m. on West Duarte Road between Holly Avenue and El Monte Avenue. The Percussion Festival starts at 11:40 a.m. at Salter Stadium at Arcadia High School followed by the Band Review and Percussion Festival awards ceremony at 2:00 p.m. The evening field tournament, the 6A Division Field Show Championship for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. at Citrus College in Glendora, with the awards ceremony following at 8:30 p.m.

“I look forward to playing in front of a big audience and being able to show the hard work I have been working on for the past couple months,” Said freshman drummer Stanley Liem.

AFOB began in 1953 in Arcadia as a showcase for Southern California’s best marching bands. 

Last year, for the 70th annual Festival of Bands, the Grand Marshall was Neil Conrad, a former fire captain for the Arcadia Fire Department who served the Arcadia community for 30 years. This year’s Grand Marshall has still yet to be declared. 

Sophomore band member Giselle Briseno said, “I am looking forward to seeing how much the band has improved since last year, to see our progression and also end the season with good memories.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCADIABAND