GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - There is always something for everyone at the Butte County Fair. This year, in addition to the tried and true standards of entertainment at the grand stand – the Rodeo, Mud Boggs & Tuff Trucks Show, Demolition Derby – Fair-goers can expect even more family centric fun.

Saturday, at 4:30 pm, the Butte County Fair will host the first ever Nor-Cal Review: Marching Band Competition and Parade. Marching bands from middle schools and high schools throughout Butte County and surrounding areas will congregate at the Butte County Fair grounds to battle it out note-by-note in a rousing competition and musical extravaganza.

Brian Basset, Entertainment Director for the Butte County Fair, says that interested bands are still responding to the call for participants and he attempts to finalize the line-up for the event. So far, the review boasts 200 student participants and 5 marching bands, with Basset expecting even more by the time the Nor-Cal Review is held. Among some of the confirmed entries in this year’s review is the Paradise High School marching band.

The bands will be treated to a meet-n-greet luncheon in the pavilion, before organizing for performance time. Each band will begin their parade through the fairgrounds near the grand stand area entrance on the north-eastern side of the fairgrounds, making a loop as they march south past Jake’s and the livestock arena (in cadence mode at that time so-as not to disturb the animals), out the fairgrounds paralleling East Gridley Road, back in the south carnival gate and through the Mid-Way of fun and ending at the Courtyard Stage.

It will be at the Courtyard Stage that the marching bands will receive their rankings. Since it is the first year that the fair will hold the Nor-Cal Review, the competition aspect of the event will be pretty lax.

“This year it is an informal, open contest,” says Basset. “We are not going to be extremely critical. This year we just want to plant the seed and hope that in the next year, or two years, it turns into a big attraction at the Butte County Fair.”

Nevertheless, the 1^st Place winner will take home a cash prize of $500, with 2^nd Place pocketing a $300 prize and 3^rd place winning $100. Basset has added that individualized awards and trophies will also be given out to participants – you will have to attend to find out what those will be!

The Nor-Cal Review looks to be a delightful and spirited addition to the 2019 Butte County Fair line-up.