When should we plan to arrive and depart?
The opening ceremony will be on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 with the closing ceremony projected to be after the Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday, December 2, 2017. Both ceremonies are optional for guest bands.
Anticipated Schedule:
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 | Opening Ceremonies at Palm Springs City Hall
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 | Concert Bands, Alternative Bands
Thursday, November 30, 2017 | Jazz Bands, Parade Preliminaries, Show Band Preliminaries
Friday, December 1, 2017 | Parade Finals, Show Band Preliminaries
Saturday, December 2, 2017 | Show Band Finals, Festival of Lights Parade, Mass Band and Closing Ceremonies (Mass Band… music to be provided).
Will it be possible to extend our stay?
With that said, we recommend that participating bands plan on arriving on Sunday, November 26th or Monday, November 27th and/or departing on Tuesday, December 5th in order to enjoy some of Southern California’s exceptional visitor offerings including Disneyland Resort (Walt Disney’s original park and vision), Hollywood and Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm (California original theme park with thrill rides), San Diego, outlet shopping, and so much more. Festival organizers will be pleased to work with you in customizing your visit to make this the ultimate California experience for your band members.
What if we cannot stay for the entire event?
Naturally, we hope that all participating bands will be present for the entire event, but should school schedules or other conflicts necessitate a late arrival or early departure, we will do our best to schedule your band’s performances accordingly to ensure that your experience is worthwhile. This holds especially true for local and/or regional participants.
Who is the local host organization in Palm Springs?
The local Palm Springs Instrumental Band Association – The Academy of Performing Arts, the Palm Springs Tourist and Convention Association, and the City of Palm Springs will be working to make this a phenomenal experience for all of the participants.
Will there be a band registration fee?
Yes, each participating band will be required to pay a registration fee of $500 US per group to participate and compete at the 2017 World Championship. (Local and Regional Bands may receive a sponsorship credit to help offset their participation fee.)
What is included in the band registration fee?
The opportunity to perform and compete representing their country, organization, school, city, state, and/or province
- Evaluation from an international professional judging panel with recorded feedback on your performance(s)
- A participation award for your band
- An event keepsake for each performing band member
- A predetermined # of executive VIP access passes
- A predetermined # of staff access passes
- Complimentary general admission for bus drivers
- Free general admission to all World Championship competitions for all band members, including the World Championship Finals
- An assigned local guide to all participating international bands