School briefs: Eden Prairie festival to showcase best marching bands

The area's best marching bands will debut their 2014 field shows at the annual Prairie Colors Marching Band Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Prairie Colors, the first marching band competition of the season, will start at noon at Aerie Stadium at Eden Prairie High School, 17185 Valley View Rd.

Fifteen bands will perform shows featuring complex drill movements, unique musical compositions and arrangements, integrated color guard routines and props.

Bands will compete in Class A, AA and AAA and will include high schools from Rocori, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Andover, Champlin Park, Minnetonka, Hastings, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Washington), Rochester (Lourdes), Waseca, Grand Rapids, Marshall, Irondale, Rosemount and Eden Prairie.

This year's festival also will include a performance by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Blugold Marching Band.

Tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for students, and free for kids under 5. Tickets will go on sale at 10:30 a.m., and gates will open at 11.

The Wayzata Public Schools Education Foundation will hold a 18 Hole Best Ball Scramble on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Wayzata Country Club.

Sponsorship and golfing opportunities are available. For more information, contact Roger Remark at remark4@msn.com or go to WPSEF.org.

The Eden Prairie High School cross-country team is looking to introduce the sport to all students in fourth through sixth grades by holding a one-mile race on Oct. 7.

The first race will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Middle School ball fields.

High school student athletes will coach the kids in five races, which will run continuously from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Preregistration is encouraged, but runners will be allowed to register until 4:15 p.m. on the day of the event.

For more information, go to www.epxc.org.