Band Directors

Thank you for considering bringing your band to compete in the Southern Hospitality Marching Festival. Below you’ll find the general information about the contest, entry fee, and field set-up. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us.

Contest Information

Entry Fee

For the first 25 bands registering, the entry fee will be $100.00. Please make checks payable to Hartselle Band Boosters.

Entry Deadline

The entry form must be submitted three weeks prior to the event date. Registration is limited to 25 bands.

Type of Show

Bands may perform any type of show that best represents its students and their abilities.

Time Limitations

Each band will be allowed 20 minutes for set-up, field entrance, performance, and field exit

Classifications

Class A up to 35
Class AA 36 – 55
Class AAA 56 – 75
Class AAAA 76 – 100
Class AAAAA 101 – over

*Playing members including percussion.
*Bands may enter a higher classification.

Field Entrance & Exit

When facing the press box from the field, each band will enter and exit the field from the right.

Pit Equipment

For bands that need assistance, we will be transporting pit equipment from the unloading area to the field.

Order of Performance

After the order of performance has been determined by a drawing, all the necessary information will be e-mailed to each band director.

Adjudication & Ratings

Bands will be judged in the festival format with three band judges and separate judges for drum major, majorette, dance team, color guard, feature twirler, and percussion. In order for an auxiliary unit to be judged, the group must perform throughout the majority of the show (at the judges’ discretion).

A majorette line consists of three or more majorettes. Fewer than three majorettes will receive a festival rating; however, they will not be considered for Best in Class awards. Feature twirlers will be judged separately from majorette lines.

Directors will be furnished recordings of adjudicators’ comments and score sheets at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.

Ratings will be based on the following:

Superior (1) 85 to 100
Excellent (2) 70 to 84.9
Good (3) 55 to 69.9
Fair (4) 0 to 54.9

Awards

Awards will be given to all bands, percussion, drum major, color guard, majorette, feature twirler, and dance line who receive superior ratings.

Best in Class

A Best-in-Class award will be given to the top scoring band, percussion, drum major, color guard, majorette, and dance line in each class. The band score will be determined by an average of the three band judges’ scores. In the event of a tie, we will use the average of the three music scores from the band judges.

Challenge Cup

The Challenge cup is awarded to the band in each class, with the highest average of combined band and percussion scores.

Dexter Greenhaw Memorial Color Guard Award

This award was established to honor the memory of Dexter Greenhaw, Hartselle High School’s band director from 1994-2004. Mr. Greenhaw was instrumental in starting our Southern Hospitality Marching Festival, a competition hosted by the Hartselle Band Boosters, and to this day, we still enjoy this annual event. In 2004, Mr. Greenhaw was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and fought a brave battle until his passing in 2007. The Dexter Greenhaw Memorial Color Guard Award is presented each year to the best overall color guard in the competition.

Directions for Buses

We are excited to have you come and participate in our event! Please use the following directions and map for coming to the Festival on Saturday. This is the best way for buses to enter the event area, check-in and park. If you have any questions please call Randall Key at 256-751-5618.

From I-65 take exit 325
Turn west off the ramp onto Thompson Road – 1.1 miles
Turn right (north) onto Highway 31 – 1.5 miles
At the second light, turn right onto Karl Prince Drive – 0.1 miles
Turn left onto Sparkman Street – 476 feet
Turn right onto Petain Street – 0.2 miles
You’ll turn right into the Hartselle Intermediate School Parking lot. Here you’ll register your band and be directed to the bus parking area.

View Marching Festival in a larger map

Get in touch

Randall Key, Director of Bands
Phone: 256-751-5618
E-mail: randall.key@hartselletigers.org

Mail Registration Fees to:

Hartselle Band Boosters
PO Box 672 | Hartselle, Alabama 35640