Welcome

Welcome friends, families, participants and spectators to the 35th Annual Vikingland Band Festival! The Alexandria Lakes Area is honored to host this fantastic event in our beautiful Downtown district and have you all here to experience summer in the lakes area! We invite you to explore everything our area has to offer, from our spectacular lakes, great overnight accommodations, excellent restaurants, local shops, attractions and more…you are certain to make fun memories! We hope you find many reasons to come back for a visit again.

On behalf of the Alexandria Lakes Area, welcome! We hope you enjoy your time in our community and good luck to all the bands!

James Feist

Executive Director, Explore Alexandria Tourism www.ExploreAlex.com

Welcome to Alexandria, marchers and marching band fans!

We are proud to be home to one of the Midwest’s premier marching band parades, and are happy you could join us as we celebrate the 35th annual festival.

While we know you are here for the bands, we hope that you will take time to enjoy all of the other wonderful things our area has to offer you. From fine dining establishments and unique shopping opportunities to quality museums and plentiful entertainment opportunities, we’ve got a lot to share with you.

If you can’t fit it all into this trip, we welcome you to come back anytime. Summer, fall, winter or spring, we’ve got plenty of things to keep you busy, including pristine lakes for fun and fishing, quality golf courses, a plethora of history and arts opportunities, and, of course, our claims to fame, Big Ole and the Kensington Runestone.

We can make you comfortable at a local resort, bed and breakfast, hotel/motel, campground, private rental or unique retreat lodge - whatever fits your family best.

We’re happy you’re here, and we hope to see you again soon!

Tara Bitzan

Tara Bitzan Director

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Director: Casey Skalback

Assistant Director: Derek Ziemer

Drumline: Scott Fasset

Color guard: Kassie Gibbons

Assistant Colorguard: Sue Snorek

Honor Guard: Kaylee Krueger

Repertoire: “A Little Party (Never Killed Nobody)”

Number of Band Members: 60

Band Accomplishments:

The Alexandria Marching Band has been a competitive marching unit since the early 1980s. The band marches extensively in Minnesota during June and July, and takes a major trip every other year. This year, the band will travel to California and perform in the Huntington Parade and Palisades Parade. In 2015, the band traveled to Norway and performed at the Stabekk Centennial Festival. Past national performances of the band include the 1985 Cotton Bowl Parade, the 1990 and 1998 Tournament of Roses Parade, the 1998 and 2003 Disney Torchlight Parade, the 1994 and 2000 Fiesta Bowl Parade, the 1992 National Independence Day Parade, the 1992 Closing Ceremonies of the U.S. Olympic Festival, the 2003 and 2006 Florida Citrus Bowl Parade, the 2009 Greeley Stampede Parade, and the 2009 Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo Parade.