Avenue of Champions closes 5:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 31, for the KMEA marching band championship at WKU. Greenwood and South Warren perform; times and tickets.

Kentucky’s top high school marching bands compete at Western Kentucky University on Saturday, Oct. 31. Two of them come from Warren County. Expect closed lots and a closed road on campus from Friday afternoon.

The Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) runs the state championship. Its marching band page puts two rounds at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium that day:

  • the Class 5A semifinals, starting at 10 a.m.
  • the finals for classes 3A, 4A and 5A, starting at 4:30 p.m.

All times here are Central.

The local bands

Greenwood High School and South Warren High School are among 14 bands in the 5A semifinal at WKU. KMEA’s 5A semifinal schedule lists:

Band Performs
Greenwood High School 11 a.m.
South Warren High School 1:45 p.m.

South Warren closes the round. Awards follow at 2:15 p.m. Six finalists are chosen in each class, KMEA said.

Warren East High School is in the Class 2A semifinal at Campbellsville University, about 65 miles northeast. It performs at 5:30 p.m. Eastern (4:30 p.m. Central), according to KMEA’s 2A schedule. The 1A and 2A finals are at Campbellsville that night.

The evening finals at WKU

KMEA’s finals schedule fills in as the semifinal results come in. The running order by class is:

  • Class 3A: six bands from 4:30 p.m.
  • Class 4A: six bands from 6:30 p.m.
  • Class 5A: six bands from 8:30 p.m.
  • Awards: 10:30 p.m., after the presentation of bands at 10 p.m.

Parking and the road closure

WKU Parking and Transportation Services posted the changes Monday. Bands may start rehearsing as early as 7 a.m. Saturday.

Avenue of Champions is closed to all traffic except event vehicles from 5:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday.

These lots are reserved for the event:

  • Avenue of Champions (faculty and staff spaces)
  • South Lawn Lot
  • Diddle South Lot
  • Diddle North Lot
  • Creason Lot

They close to re-entry at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and must be empty by 4:30 p.m. WKU said cars left after 4:30 p.m. will be moved at the owner’s expense.

Permit holders who lose their space can use the Adams Street Lot, Kentucky Street Lot, Chestnut South Lot, Parking Structure 3 or the University Boulevard Lot.

Public parking on Saturday is in Parking Structures 1 and 2, at $10 a vehicle, cash only. WKU has a parking and road closing map.

Tickets

KMEA sells no tickets at its state office. Its ticket section says:

Event Price Sold by
5A semifinal at WKU $15, general admission WKU Athletics ticket office
3A, 4A and 5A finals at WKU $25, $30 or $35, reserved WKU Athletics ticket office
1A and 2A finals at Campbellsville $20, general seating GoFan

Children 6 and under get into the semifinals free. At the finals, which have reserved seats, they are free only if they sit on an adult’s lap. Performing band members get in free.

What it means for you

  • Work or park on campus? Move your car out of the five reserved lots by 4:30 p.m. Friday.
  • Driving near WKU Saturday: Avenue of Champions is shut all day and into the night. It is also Halloween, so expect busy streets after dark; our trick-or-treat hours page has the times and our Halloween events guide has the rest.
  • Going to watch Greenwood or South Warren? Arrive well before 11 a.m. or 1:45 p.m., and bring cash for parking.
  • Questions: WKU Parking and Transportation Services is at 270-745-2361. KMEA’s championship manager is at 859-626-5635.