SHERBURNE – Founded by Albert Whitney and Frank L. Miller in September of 1949, the Sherburne Pageant of Bands is now recognized as one of the longest running, largest and most respected pageants in the state. This weekend, more than 10,000 people are expected to celebrate the event’s 63rd year, watching a combined 30 junior and senior high school bands participate and compete.

The pageant will be held Thursday through Saturday at the S-E Middle/High School at various sites throughout the school building, culminating with Saturday’s Grand Parade Competition ­– which will make its way through downtown Sherburne at 1 p.m. – and Presentation of Awards ceremony, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in S-E’s Marauder Stadium.

Said Pageant of Bands Coordinator Jeff Manwaring, “This is a chance for bands to come in ... it’s almost an evaluation-type festival. For directors, it’s almost a staff development kind of day. They get to see a lot of different programs; a lot of different styles and techniques. It’s fun ... it’s just a lot of fun.”

The bands compete for both trophies and ratings, determined by a panel of professional judges, he added, with first through fifth place trophies awarded for the concert and parade categories. Pageant competitions include Concert, Parade, Small Ensemble, Color Guard, Jazz Ensemble, Drum Line and Drum Major.

Competitions will be held as follows: