As of 8:30 am Tuesday, Aug. 29, the U.S. Marine Corps band was still set to travel to Kewanee to perform in the Hog Days Parade, but Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce, won’t breathe a sigh of relief until the wheels of their plane lift off the ground.
That’s because twice before, the weather, namely hurricanes, have caused the US Marines to cancel their appearance in the Kewanee Hog Days Parade over Labor Day. It happened back in 2021, the year Mikenas scored both the US Marine Corps Band and the Clydesdales in one parade. And it happened a few years before that. Even though there are storms in the Gulf of Mexico, Mikenas said that it doesn’t appear it will affect the band’s plans.
Mikenas expects them to fly into the Quad Cities on Thursday night. Lodging has been booked in the Quad Cities and transportation in the form of a charter bus will carry them back and forth from their hotel to the Kewanee festival.
On Friday, Sept. 1, the entire US Marine Corps Band will take to the main stage at PNB and perform from 6 to 7 pm. On Saturday, Sept. 2, you’ll find the band members participating in the Kewanee Hog Days Stampede. The Kewanee High School Band will take part in the opening ceremony and perform the National Anthem and the Marine Corps Hymn before the start of the race. At 2 pm on Saturday, the Marine Band will appear in the annual Kewanee Hog Days parade.
On Sunday, Sept. 3 at noon, the Marine Band- rock band ensemble- will take the main stage downtown at PNB parking lot and play more contemporary musical selections. At 6:30 pm, later that day, the US Marine Corps Brass Band ensemble will play under the pork chop tent.
“That will conclude their performances,” said Mikenas.
Mikenas said much of the details of the band’s Kewanee visit have been finalized, including the lodging, food and charter bus, but Mikenas said they are still in need of donations to help cover the cost.
The Kewanee Hog Days Committee has provided the KCOC with a parade fund, and another $1,000 towards the cost of housing, feeding and transporting the Marines, but it still doesn’t cover all the expenses, he said.
Anyone wishing to donate towards the US Marine Corps band’s visit can drop off a check to the KCOC office at 113 E. Second St. or drop a check in the mail with a notation that it be used to help fund the U.S. Marine Band.
