ILLINOIS BAND DAY & TWIRLER FOR A DAY

REGISTRATION

Registration is now open. Click HERE to register today.

WELCOME

Welcome to the 2023 University of Illinois Band Day!  We are excited you plan to join us on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Please read the following instructions to help facilitate the organization of this event.  On this page, you will find information regarding the day’s schedule, parking, seating, placement on the field, and additional general information.

Of course if you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

BAND DAY 2023 PARTICIPANTS

BAND DAY 2022 PARTICIPANTS

• Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
• Auburn High School
• Bolingbrook High School
• Eisenhower High School
• Evergreen Park High School
• Gardner South Wilmington High School
• Georgetown Ridge Farm High School
• John Carroll High School
• La Moille Community High School
• Lexington High School
• Manteno High School
• Oakwood High School Marching Band
• Oakville Middle School
• Painesville Riverside High School
• Phoenix STEM Military Academy
• Rantoul Township High School
• Reed-Custer High School
• Rochester High School
• Roxana High School
• Sacred Heart Homeschool
• Schlarman Academy
• Trico High School
• Westville High School
• Zion-Benton Township High School

BAND DAY 2021 PARTICIPANTS

• Auburn High School
• Downers Grove North High School
• Eisenhower High School
• Evergreen Park High School
• Fieldcrest High School
• Gardner South Wilmington High School
• Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School
• Lewistown High School
• Lexington High School
• Manteno High School
• Oakwood High School
• Plano High School
• Rantoul Township High School
• Reed-Custer High School
• Rochester High School
• Roxana High School
• St. Joseph-Ogden HIgh School
• Streator Township High School
• Taylorville High School
• Urbana High School
• Westville High School

BAND DAY 2019 PARTICIPANTS

• Auburn High School
• Bishop McNamara Catholic High School
• Eisenhower High School
• Evergreen Park High School
• Gardner South Wilmington High School
• Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School
• Glenbard East High School
• Kelly College Prep
• Litchfield High School
• Manteno High School
• Maroa-Forsyth High School
• Marshall High School
• Mt. Vernon High School
• Oakwood High School
• Ottawa Township High School
• Plainfield East High School
• Plano High School
• Pontiac Township High School
• Rantoul Township High School
• Reed-Custer High School
• Ridgewood High School
• Rochester High School
• Roxana High School
• South Elgin High School
• Westville High School
• Williamsville High School

BAND DAY 2018 PARTICIPANTS

• Argenta-Oreana High School, IL
• Auburn High School, IL
• Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin Cooperative High School, IL
• Carmi-White County High School, IL
• Central A&M High School, IL
• Champaign Centennial High School, IL
• Crete-Monee High School, IL
• Eisenhower High School, IL
• Fieldcrest High School, IL
• Gardner South Wilmington High School, IL
• Georgetown Ridge Farm High School, IL
• Hall High School, IL
• Jacksonville High School, IL
• Lexington High School, IL
• Manteno High School, IL
• Maroa-Forsyth High School, IL
• Mt. Vernon High School, IL
• Oakwood High School, IL
• Pana High School, IL
• Reed-Custer High School, IL
• Ridgewood High School, IL
• Rochester High School, IL
• Taylorville High School, IL
• Thorton Fractional North High School, IL
• Trico High School, Campbell Hill, IL
• Tri-City CUSD #1 High School, IL
• Westville High School, IL
• Willowbrook High School, IL

BAND DAY 2017 PARTICIPANTS

• Arcola High School, IL
• Auburn High School, IL
• Coal City High School, IL
• Crete-Monee High School, IL
• Eisenhower High School, IL
• El Paso Gridley High School, IL
• Elmwood Park High School, IL
• Georgetown Ridge Farm High School, IL
• Jacksonville High School, IL
• Lexington High School, IL
• Litchfield High School, IL
• Marshall High School, IL
• Metea Valley High School, IL
• Mount Vernon Township High School, IL
• North Central High School, IN
• Pana High School, IL
• Reed-Custer High School, IL
• Ridgewood High School, IL
• Rochester High School, IL
• Rock Falls High Schoool, IL
• Rushville Industry High School, IL

BAND DAY 2016 PARTICIPANTS

• Argenta-Oreana High School
• Bismarck-Henning High School
• Cary-Grove High School
• Downers Grove North High School
• Eisenhower High School
• Fieldcrest High School
• Galesburg High School
• Gardner South Wilmington High School
• Georgetown Ridge Farm High School
• Johnsburg High School
• Lexington High School
• Litchfield High School
• Manteno High School
• Marshall High School
• Ottawa Township High School
• Pana High School
• Plano High School
• Reed-Custer High School
• Ridgewood High School
• Rochester High School
• Round Lake High School
• Schaumburg High School
• St. Joseph-Ogden High School
• Westville High School

8:45 AM  Buses park on Pennsylvania and walk to the stadium

• • • no need to be in uniform for this rehearsal
    • bring instruments, music, and any other equipment. Leave cases on your buses

9:00 AM  Check-In begins in Memorial Stadium through the South Tunnel – Directors check- in on the 50 yardline

9:30 AM  All winds and drumline report to their respective sections with the Marching Illini for warm-up/halftime music

• • • Guard report to the South Endzone of the Stadium, Dance Teams report to the North Endzone of the Stadium

9:45 AM  Set the Band Day Drill Set & Run the Show

10:30 AM  Rehearsal Concludes!  Use this time to get something to eat, explore campus, concessions in the stadium

11:45 AM  Illini Drumline Public Warm-Up in Grange Grove – West Side of Memorial Stadium – free and open to the public

12:00 PM  Grange Grove Pregame Concert featuring the Marching Illini and the Fighting Illini Football Team – free and open to the public

1:45 PM  Band Day Participants report to seats in Memorial Stadium 

2:05 PM  University of Illinois Marching Illini Pregame Show

2:30 PM  Kick-Off between Illinois and Florida Atlantic 

HALFTIME  Official Halftime Performance with a cast of thousands – please dress uniformly for this performance

BAND DAY LOGISTICS

• Guard and Dance Team Demonstration Videos will be shared via the Band Day Google Drive
• Band Day Field Placement – will be shared via email one week before the show
• Drum Majors of each band will be placed around the perimeter of the field to assist in conducting
• Halftime Instructions
  • Leave your seats in the stadium with 10:00 left in the second quarter
  • Enter the field level via the South Tunnel of Memorial Stadium
  • Once the clock hits 0:00 move quickly to the sideline where you will enter
  • Whistle sequence will start the process to bring all bands onto the field (64 counts)
  • Horns come down for 4 with MT, turn over your left shoulder for 4 counts to face the East Stands, horns come up the last 4 counts
  • Following the closer, horns come down in 4, MT over your left shoulder 4.
  • Whistles will sound to bring us off the field in 64 counts and then depart through the South Tunnel
• Concession Stands in the stadium will open 1.5 hours before kick off

UNIFORMS

Be certain whatever you decide to wear that you match – full uniform is preferred.  The Marching Illini will be dressed in full uniform unless there is excessive heat. There will be time for you to return to your buses to change. Changing facilities will not be provided while on campus however.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Lunch and Dinner is on your own.  You may choose to eat at the Memorial Stadium Concession Stands or eat something on your own.  
• Cashless Concessions – Fighting Illini concessions are cashless at all venues. At Memorial Stadium, kiosks have been installed at all permanent concession stands for patrons to use their credit or debit card to order and pay for their selections
• Clear Bag Policy – Fans will be able to carry the following styles and bag sizes into Memorial Stadium: Bags that are CLEAR plastic or vinyl and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″; CLEAR drawstring bag 12″ x 12″; One-gallon CLEAR plastic storage bag; Small clutch no larger than 4.5″ x 7″. Exceptions will be made for diaper bags (with child) and approved medical needs after proper inspection. All backpacks regardless of size are prohibited and any bags larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, clear or non-clear, will be strictly prohibited. Fans are encouraged to bring only necessary items into Memorial Stadium and all bags are subject to search and inspection.
• There are water fountains in the stadium and water bottles are available for purchase. The Marching Illini and Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will not provide bottled water to you. Plan ahead for the well being of your students. Fans are permitted to bring sealed bottles of water into Memorial Stadium
• Restrooms and First Aid are located throughout the stadium 
• Please sit in your assigned seats only.  Do not “overflow” into adjacent reserved seating sections.  Seating information and game tickets will be distributed at check-in based on the numbers you provided
• Know that you may leave anytime after the conclusion of halftime if you choose.  
• It is recommended that all bands stay together as much as possible.  Students should not be allowed to “roam” the campus by themselves at anytime during the day.
• There is no room in the stands for instrument cases and hat boxes so plan accordingly.  Your buses and equipment trailers will be your storage area. Large equipment – drums, sousaphones, flags can be stored in specific areas of the South Tunnel of the stadium. Do not store these items in high traffic areas in the Tunnel.
• Bands should not play anytime around the stadium until it is performance time
• Remember, there are others in the stands that came to watch the game.  Be courteous of our patrons and represent your school with a great deal of class and pride

BUS PERMIT, PARKING, & SEATING

• Bus Parking Permit – display these in all of your buses or equipment trucks/trailers
• Traffic Routes, Memorial Stadium Map, Memorial Stadium Seating
• Band Day Locations (Tickets will be distributed at check-in on Saturday)

  • All buses and trailers should go straight to Pennsylvania Avenue to park.

  • Park between Sixth Street and Dorner Drive (on both sides of the street).  Athletic Parking staff will be there to assist in parking the buses.  

  • Please make sure there are no parent vehicles in the bus caravan parked along Pennsylvania – all parents need to park in permit lots notated on the parking map above

  • Students and directors will proceed to the South Tunnel entrance into Memorial Stadium…please do not bring uniforms or cases with you to this rehearsal…only what you need for rehearsal

  • Following halftime or the conclusion of the game, all schools, staff, band members,  will load on Pennsylvania

TICKET RESERVATIONS FOR PARENTS, BOOSTERS, FRIENDS

• Ticket Information for Band Day available now
• To purchase tickets, visit our Band Day ticket page
• For more information, feel free to contact:
  • Phone: 1-866-ILLINI-1
  • Email: [email protected]
• NOTE:  All tickets for participating band students, directors, and staff are FREE