2026 Lowcountry Invitational Marching Band Festival

The Wando High School Band Boosters are pleased to announce the 2026 Lowcountry Invitational Marching Band Festival.

LCI will be held on the campus of Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, SC, on Saturday, September 26th, 2026.

Read below for more details or register here. Registration is FREE!

The 2026 LCI Marching Band Festival is exclusively run by the Wando Band Boosters.

We are pleased to invite you to perform at the 2026 Lowcountry Invitational Marching Band Festival.  We take pride in offering a festival that is well-run and focused on the educational welfare of its participants.  The goal for the entire event is to provide participating bands with a wealth of knowledge about their product and to offer a myriad of ideas as to how they can improve their performance.

We have hired some of the best evaluators in the country, who have come from a cross-section of experiences.  We will continue to offer a post-performance critique following the exhibition performance, so you walk away feeling it was undoubtedly a worthwhile experience to attend the event and that it was time well spent. Scoring will be the current SCBDA standard.

For all of you who have participated in the past, we hope that you will return and also spread the word about the event.  For those of you who are looking for a contest on September 26th, we hope that you will consider joining us for this exceptional Marching Band experience.

Click here to register.

BAND CLASSIFICATION

Class will be determined by the number of wind players in the band.  Classifications are as follows:

Class 1Aless than 40 winds
Class 2A40 – 80 winds
Class 3A81 – 100 winds
Class 4A100-140 winds
Class 5A140 winds and above
Class 6A

Directors may elect to register by hornline size OR may register by their SCBDA classification (high school league designation). For more information on SCBDA Classifications visit this link – https://www.bandlink.org/marching/classifications/

AWARDS AND TROPHIES

First, Second and Third place trophies will be awarded in each classification. Trophies will also be awarded for Best Drumline, Best Drum Major, Best Color Guard and Highest Music Score.  The Grand Champion Trophy will be awarded to the ensemble with the highest total score, regardless of classification.  The Wando High School Band will march in exhibition prior to the awards ceremony.

WARM-UP AND PERFORMANCE

Bands will be scheduled in fifteen-minute performance slots.  All bands should attempt to perform within a six to ten-minute time span. There will be four warm-up areas for your convenience. Dressing rooms available on site.

2026 JUDGING

Judges are selected from among the finest music and visual educators in the United States.  Judges will evaluate performance in Music, Marching, and General Effect, along with additional judges that will evaluate marching technique, drum major, color guard, and drumline captains.  

MISCELLANEOUS

Approximately one month prior to the Invitational, directors will receive a complete information packet.  This packet will contain a master schedule, sitemaps, rules, and basic procedures for the contest.  Passes for staff members and chaperones can be picked up at the check-in table which will be located at the front of the school.  Concessions will be available and meals can be arranged prior to the event.  All other information can be accessed via the band website.

If you have further questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us!

Bobby Lambert: director@wandobands.org

Lanie Radecke: radecke@wandobands.org