51st Annual Blinn Buccaneer Marching Festival Information
Competition Format
Competition for bands in classifications 1A-4A will include both preliminary and finals performances.
Non-Competing Bands
Bands in classifications 5A and 6A may participate as non-competing bands and will receive critiques and video recordings from preliminary performances only.
Scheduling Priority
Scheduling priority will be given to competing 1A-4A bands.
What to Expect
Our goal is to provide your band with a quality competition experience, valuable feedback from judges who are familiar with small school band programs, and the opportunity for priority scheduling of a future clinic with one of the Blinn College band directors.
Contest Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Deadline for Entry Form: Monday, August 24, 2026
Deadline for Payment: Friday, September 18, 2026
Location: Artificial turf field at Brenham I.S.D.'s Cub Stadium, 1600 E. Tom Green St., Brenham, TX 77833
Entry Fee:
$375 for schools outside of the Blinn College service area
$325 for schools in the Blinn College service area
Blinn College Service Area Shaded in Blue or Yellow
Sample Band Schedule
- 30 minutes: Warm-up by Brenham Middle School across from the stadium
- 10 minutes: Walk to the field from the warm-up area
- 5 minutes: Entry to the field
- 10 minutes: Performance of contest program and exit from the field
Preliminary performances will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude with a performance by the Blinn Buccaneer Band at 3:45 p.m. Awards and finals band announcements will be made at 4:30 p.m.
Finals performances will begin at 6:30 p.m. Finals awards will be announced at 9:30 p.m.
Please see the detailed sample schedule below for available warm-up and performance times.
Scheduling
Scheduling will be completed through Outlook Booking. Please follow these instructions carefully.
- In the entry form, click the link provided to schedule your preliminary performance time. Please submit this at the same time you submit your entry form.
- Ensure that September 26, 2026, is selected when making your booking.
- Your warm-up time will begin 45 minutes before your selected performance time. Please see the detailed chart below.
- A confirmation email will come from Jill Stewart within five business days of your booking.
Scores and Judging
Scores will not be announced but will be listed on the judges’ comment sheets. We will use caption judging for prelims and finals, and Competition Suite will be used for scoring.
The total number of bands will be limited to 20. The bands ranked in the top half, depending on the number of entries, will have the opportunity to advance to finals.
Stadium Clock
The stadium clock will be used to allow bands to rehearse their entrance to the field, setup, and field exit in preparation for UIL marching contests.
Comment Sheets
Comment sheets will be available for pickup within 30 minutes after your performance in the press box. Please enter the press box from the door on the south end, and do not enter during a performance.
Video of Performances
Videos of performances will be available through Competition Suite.
Admission
Admission is $5 for spectators. Admission is free for children age 12 and under. Band directors will be sent free passes for their staff, band members, and chaperones.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at the stadium only. Brenham Middle School and Brenham Junior High School will not be open for restroom use.
Electrical Outlet
An electrical outlet is available at the 50-yard line under the stands. Please bring your own extension cord.
Inclement Weather
Monitors will relay information from the press box. However, the contest will continue unless extreme weather conditions require a delay. The field is Astroturf and will not hold water in the event of rain.
If a delay is necessary due to lightning, we will resume the contest as soon as possible. Announcements will be made from the press box and via text message to directors as information becomes available.
If wet bulb temperatures become too high, we will communicate with directors regarding uniform usage. We strongly recommend that directors err on the side of caution. Points will not be deducted, and judges will not comment on uniforms if heat is an issue. Student safety is our primary concern, and turf field temperatures can be significantly higher than the air temperature.
Concessions
The concession stand will be available during the contest. Meal deal information will be provided after your entry is received.
1A-4A Awards Presentations
We ask that drum majors and/or designated students from participating bands line up on the front sideline at the conclusion of prelims and finals. Please let us know if your band will leave before the awards presentation.
Preliminary Awards
- Outstanding band in each classification, 1A-4A
- Caption awards for drum major, drumline, color guard, and soloist
Finals Awards
- First place overall
- Second place overall
- Third place overall
A complete list of contest awards and scores will be emailed to all participating band directors the week after the contest.
Unloading Students and Equipment
Buses
Buses will park at the Brenham Junior High School parking lot, accessed from Tom Green Street. Stadium parking will be used for spectator vehicles.
You have two options for unloading students:
- Before parking, unload students in the designated one-way drive near warm-up areas 1 and 2. The entrance to this driveway is on Niebuhr Street. Faculty and student monitors will be there to meet you. After buses unload students near the warm-up areas, they will proceed through the driveway and turn left onto Highway 577. They will then proceed to the light at Tom Green Street and turn left onto Tom Green Street. Buses will enter the junior high driveway, located past the stadium parking entrance. A faculty or student monitor will be there to meet you and direct you to your parking space.
- Go directly to the bus parking lot at Brenham Junior High School and unload there. This option allows students to visit the restroom at the stadium before walking around the stadium to the warm-up areas. Please indicate this option in the logistics form that will be sent after your entry is received.
Equipment Trucks
Equipment truck parking is available in the Blue Bell Aquatic Center parking lot, with entry from Tom Green Street. Please unload in the Blue Bell Aquatic Center parking lot. A faculty or student monitor will be there to meet you. Pit warm-up areas are located on the northwest side of the Boys and Girls Club, adjacent to the Aquatic Center parking lot.
Students
A faculty or student monitor will be at the warm-up area and/or bus parking lot to greet you as students unload. Once students have unloaded, the monitor will lead the band to its assigned warm-up area. Warm-up areas will be marked.
Warm-Up Areas
Warm-up areas 1 and 2 are outside and located adjacent to Brenham Middle School.
- Please follow the warm-up and performance schedule as listed. Be courteous to the group following you. Faculty and student monitors will be at the warm-up site to keep time and let you know when to move to the stadium. There is a 10-minute interval to move to the stadium.
- Please note the stadium map for entry and exit. Band members and pit equipment will enter from the west side of the stadium, on the visitor side. Pit equipment will exit through the same gate. Band members will exit through the gate on the east side of the stadium, on the home side.
- Please have your band and any speakers face away from the stadium to minimize sound bleed into the contest area.
- If your drumline warms up separately from your winds, they must remain on the opposite side of Brenham Middle School to minimize sound bleed.
- Restrooms are not available at the warm-up areas. Restrooms are available at the stadium only.
| Warm-Up Area | Warm-Up | Enter Field | PRE-LIM Performance | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLOCK A | ||||
| 1 | 8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. | 9:25 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | Band 1 |
| 2 | 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | 9:40 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. | Band 2 |
| 1 | 9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | 9:55 a.m. | 10 a.m. | Band 3 |
| 2 | 9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. | 10:10 a.m. | 10:15 a.m. | Band 4 |
| 1 | 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | 10:25 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | Band 5 |
| JUDGES’ BREAK | (15 min) | |||
| BLOCK B | ||||
| 1 | 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | 10:55 a.m. | 11 a.m. | Band 6 |
| 2 | 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | 11:10 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. | Band 7 |
| 1 | 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | 11:25 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. | Band 8 |
| 2 | 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | 11:40 a.m. | 11:45 a.m. | Band 9 |
| 1 | 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | 11:55 a.m. | 12 p.m | Band 10 |
| JUDGES' BREAK | (45 min) | |||
| BLOCK C | ||||
| 1 | 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m | 12:55 p.m | 1 p.m | Band 11 |
| 2 | 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m | 1:10 p.m | 1:15 p.m | Band 12 |
| 1 | 12:45 p.m. - 1:15 p.m | 1:25 p.m | 1:30 p.m | Band 13 |
| 2 | 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m | 1:40 p.m | 1:45 p.m | Band 14 |
| 1 | 1:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m | 1:55 p.m | 2 p.m | Band 15 |
| JUDGES' BREAK | (15 min) | |||
| BLOCK D | ||||
| 1 | 1:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m | 2:25 p.m | 2:30 p.m | Band 16 |
| 2 | 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m | 2:40 p.m | 2:45 p.m | Band 17 |
| 1 | 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m | 2:55 p.m | 3 p.m | Band 18 |
| 2 | 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m | 3:10 p.m | 3:15 p.m | Band 19 |
| 1 | 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m | 3:25 p.m | 3:30 p.m | Band 20 |
| 2 | 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m | 3:40 p.m | 3:45 p.m | Blinn Buccaneer Marching Band Exhibition Performance |
| Track | 4:30 p.m | Prelim Awards and Announcements of Advancing Bands to Finals |
FINALS WARM-UP AND PERFORMANCE TIMES
| FINALS Warm-Up Area |
FINALS Warm-Up |
Enter Field | FINALS Performance |
Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. | 6:25 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | Finals Band 1 |
| 2 | 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. | Finals Band 2 |
| 1 | 6:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 7 p.m. | Finals Band 3 |
| 2 | 6:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 7:15 p.m. | Finals Band 4 |
| 1 | 6:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | Finals Band 5 |
| JUDGES’ BREAK | (15 min) | |||
| 1 | 7:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 8 p.m. | Finals Band 6 |
| 2 | 7:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. | 8:10 p.m. | 8:15 p.m. | Finals Band 7 |
| 1 | 7:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. | 8:25 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | Finals Band 8 |
| 2 | 8 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | 8:40 p.m. | 8:45 p.m. | Finals Band 9 |
| 1 | 8:15 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. | 8:55 p.m. | 9 p.m | Finals Band 10 |
| 2 | 8:30 p.m. – 9 p.m | 9:10 p.m | 9:15 p.m | Blinn Buccaneer Marching Band Exhibition Performance |
| Track | 9:30 p.m | Prelim Awards and Announcements of Advancing Bands to Finals |
In case of questions or emergencies on the day of the contest, please contact any of the following. We will be available in the press box or on the contest grounds throughout the day.
- Jill Stewart
Instrumental Music Coordinator/Contest Director
(979) 251-2706 - Dr. Sarah Burke
Director of Bands, Professor of Percussion
(979) 337-4644 - Dr. Carnell Simmons
Assistant Director of Bands
(979) 551-0316