The Great Lakes Naval Band will march in this year’s Hog Festival Parade.
Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce, said he received confirmation from the band last week that they’ll be here for the Sept. 5 parade.
Mikenas said the band, with 25 to 30 members, will come to Kewanee in four 15-passenger buses.
He said he is working with the Hog Capital Festival Committee to try to set up a downtown concert by the band after the parade.
Based at Naval Station Great Lakes in suburban Chicago, the band is one of 11 U.S. Navy bands which serve as the Navy’s musical ambassadors to the nation. The Great Lakes band performs for military, civic and public events across an 11-state area of responsibility.
Established in 1911, the band carries on the tradition established by John Philip Sousa and has the theme “Pride in Service.”
In addition to the parade band, the group has a jazz combo, a popular-music group, a brass band and other ensembles.
