PCHS Band of Gold

45th Annual Pell City Marching Festival

Saturday, October 18, 2025

The Pell City Marching Band Festival began in October of 1979, and has continued each year with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic.  It has become a premiere competition for central Alabama marching bands.

Registration Information for Band Directors

You and your band are invited to the 45th Annual Pell City Marching Festival on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Pell City High School.  The Pell City Marching Festival is an excellent opportunity for your band students to display their talents and compare their work with that of other talented bands from Alabama and around the Southeast. Please make plans to attend this year’s festival by completing the online registration and then mailing in your $150 entry fee to:

PCS Band Boosters
PO Box 1652
Pell City, AL 35128

(Please make checks payable to PCS Band Boosters).

Performance order will be determined by postmark rather than band size, so register early!  Regardless of postmark, your application will not be considered valid until all required items have been received.  Depending on band sizes, we reserve the right to limit the number of bands participating.

Click Here to Register Your Band
Click Here for a PCS Band Boosters W9 Copy

Rules and Restrictions

Band Performance

Groups are expected to prepare a show that is a minimum of five minutes but no more than 10 minutes in length.

Venue – Pete Rich Stadium

  • No tent or beach umbrellas (personal umbrellas are acceptable) will be allowed in the stands to prevent blocking the views of attendees.
  • No food/beverage deliveries (Postmates, Door Dash, etc.) or outside food/beverages will be allowed into the stadium.  This applies to bands and fans.
  • During band performances, foot traffic at the bottom of stands will not be allowed except for emergencies.  This is to respect the performance of each band and their fans.

Classifications

Classification is based on the number of winds and percussion (including front ensemble/pit).  Bands may enter a higher classification, but not a lower one.  NOTE:  7th and 8th grade marchers count as half.

Open (116 or more)

AAAA (91-115)

AAA (66-90)

AA (36-65)

A (01-35)

Judging

Band judging will be Olympic style (drop the lowest and highest scores and average the middle three).  All awards for band will be based on this system.  All sections will be judged on how well they do what they do, regardless of style.  Many sections will require three (3) or more participants in order to be scored (this does not include “Best in Class” awards).  In the event of a tie, all five scores will be used to determine an award.  The list of judges will be placed here when that information becomes available.

Awards

Superior Rating Awards

All band/sections receiving superior ratings will receive trophies.  Drum majors receiving superior ratings will receive medals.

Best in Class Awards

A “Best in Class” trophy will be awarded to the highest-scoring band, drum major(s), majorette, dance line, color guard, and percussion in each class.

Special Awards

The “Ronny White Award” will be given to the band with the highest music score.  The “Dennis Diffee Most Entertaining Award” will be given to a band of the judges’ choice.  Ronny White and Dennis Diffee were former long-time band directors at Pell City High School.

Hospitality

A hospitality room will be provided for visiting band directors and their staff.  A hospitality room will not be available to bus and truck drivers; however, they will receive one food voucher for use at concession stands.  Additional information concerning hospitality room location, concession stands menus, etc., will be provided here as the event nears.