The bands will play on at the sixth annual Chula Vista Bayfront Parade Band Review and Festival: A salute to Veterans.
The free event takes place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the H Street extension between Bay Boulevard and Marina Parkway, with the community festival nearby at Bayside Park.
In previous years, the event was held at the Otay Ranch Town Center, but the change in venue allows for more visibility and public access, said Jason Paguio, co-founder of the Parade Band Foundation.
Paguio also said the change in location helps attract more and bigger marching bands.
This year more than two dozen marching bands throughout Southern California will compete against each other showcasing their drills, talents and routines. Local participating schools include Eastlake High School, Olympian High School, Castle Park High School and Bonita Vista High School.
Paguio said he expects about 20,000 people to attend the event, which was the same number of people who attended last year, he said.
Paguio said the event costs about $28,000 to put on, with funding coming from grants, sponsors and fundraising.
Most of the cost is for security, police and traffic control, he said.
Paguio said he started the event in 2010 when there weren’t any events to highlight local marching bands. These events, Paguio said, were key in featuring marching bands, so the Chula Vista Bayfront Parade Band Review and Festival was created out of that need.
Paguio said a marching band is essential for any parade.
“The way our foundation sees it, a parade without a marching band is really a celebration without a soundtrack,” he said.
Paguio has stated he intends to run for a seat on the City Council next year.
