BOONE, Iowa—The 31st annual Iowa Municipal Band Festival will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 8th, at Herman Park Pavilion in Boone, Iowa.

The Iowa Western Community Band will travel from Council Bluffs to make its first festival appearance and will play at 2:00.

The Ames Municipal Band and Boone Municipal Band will bookend the festival with Ames playing the first concert at 11:00 and Boone playing the final concert at 6:00.

The Iowa Military Veterans Band, composed of volunteer musicians who are also veterans, will play at noon. It will be followed by the Collins Concert Band, a corporate band whose members are employees at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, at 1:00.

The Heart of Iowa Senior Band from Ames, a group made up primarily of senior citizens, will play at 3:00. The West Des Moines Community Band returns to play at 4:00, and the Ballard Community Band of Huxley follows at 5:00.

Two small groups will offer music during the breaks. The Central Iowa Jazz Trio, which includes Boone musicians Dave Swenson, Dave Richardson and Steve O’Brien, will entertain the crowd at 11:45, 12:45, 1:45 and 2:45. Bertrunken Messing, a polka-style low brass group from Des Moines, will play two sets at 3:45 and 4:45.

The Iowa Municipal Band Festival is a free event hosted by the Boone Municipal Band. Bring a lawn chair or use the bleacher seating or picnic tables and hear a great lineup of community bands. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) will man the food court where sandwiches, pies, ice cream and drinks will be on sale. A shuttle service will be available to transport you from your vehicle to the pavilion. This event is held annually the second Saturday in July, rain or shine.

2023 band schedule

11:00 a.m. Ames Municipal Band

Noon Iowa Military Veterans Band

1:00 p.m. Collins Concert Band (Cedar Rapids)

2:00 p.m. Iowa Western Community Band (Council Bluffs)

3:00 p.m. Heart of Iowa Senior Band (Ames)

4:00 p.m. West Des Moines Community Band

5:00 p.m. Ballard Community Band (Huxley)

6:00 p.m. Boone Municipal Band

2023 small group schedule

11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m. 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

Central Iowa Jazz Trio (Dave Swenson, Dave Richardson, Steve O’Brien)

3:45 and 4:45 p.m.

Bertrunken Messing (polka-style low brass group from Des Moines)