Dust off your acid-washed jean jacket and dig out those leg warmers… you’re going to need them come Memorial Day Weekend in Mason City! To commemorate the 85th North Iowa Band Festival, we’re throwing it all the way back to 1985… that’s right! The theme for the 85th North Iowa Band Festival is “80’s Rewind”! Afterall, who doesn’t love the 80’s?! Musical performances and merchandise are chosen with the theme in mind, and parade floats are encouraged to utilize the theme in their design, so make plans to attend the parade today!

The North Iowa Band Festival committee is busy securing marching bands from the region, booking musical acts for the main stage, and preparing for an abundance of totally tubular parade entries! The parade will be held on Saturday, May 25, and parade entries are now being accepted. Parade placement is taken on a first come-first served basis, so if your organization wants to be towards the front of the parade, be sure to get your entry form in as soon as possible! Parade entry forms can be picked up at the Commerce Center or found online at www.nibandfest.com. Businesses, organizations, and community members are encouraged to participate!

The North Iowa Band Festival is the largest free marching band competition in the Midwest. Tourism-related expenditures contributed an estimated $136.18 million into Mason City’s economy in 2018. In Cerro Gordo County, tourism generated an estimated $214.46 million in visitor spending, a record for the county and the 11th highest County level in the State. Tourism related jobs employed nearly 1,570 people in Cerro Gordo County.