The Fort Walton Beach High School Viking Band has been invited to perform at the 2024 Go Bowling Military Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 28, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

• The 145-member band will march in the Military Bowl Parade, perform the Star-Spangled Banner before the game, and participate in a concert festival with their symphonic band. It marks the first time the band program has performed at a major national bowl game since 1989.

Derek Fields, Director of Bands at Fort Walton Beach High School, sees this as an opportunity to honor the program’s rich history while providing a unique experience for current students.

“It means everything,” Fields said. “This standard of excellence was set up here a long time ago, and all we’re trying to do is continue that and provide this experience for the kids.”

The band’s journey to the Military Bowl wasn’t straightforward. Initially nominated for the Peach Bowl, plans changed when the college football playoff expansion eliminated many performance opportunities traditionally associated with bowl games.

• “We decided to use our second option,” Fields explained. “Our representatives went to Peach Bowl, and they said that we could shift to the Military Bowl. That was our choice to provide more performance opportunities for the kids.”

The change has been embraced by the band and the community, given the area’s strong military ties. Kent Tinsley, Band Booster President, noted, “We felt the opportunity was just as good to go to the Military Bowl with our ties to the military and the community.”

The Viking Band’s Military Bowl itinerary is packed with performances. They will march in the Military Bowl Parade, perform the Star-Spangled Banner before the game, and participate in a concert festival with their symphonic band. The parade, featuring the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, is expected to draw thousands of spectators to downtown Annapolis.

For senior band members like Bailey Maris and Jameson Dewrell, the trip represents the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

• “It’s a big honor to be picked for this parade,” said Maris, whose parents were once members of the Viking Band. “Getting to experience the parade will be fun in addition to meeting a lot of other bands that will be there. I’m also in the color guard, so getting to meet another color guard from all over the area is going to be fun too.”

Dewrell, a member of the drumline, added, “I’ve always wanted to be one of those bands that were in one of those giant parades you see on TV.”

The trip, estimated to cost around $130,000, is being funded through various community fundraisers. Jenna Baughman, the Viking Band fundraiser chair, outlined several initiatives, including a “Super 50/50” raffle, Satsuma fruit sales, and patriotic bracelet sales.

• “We launched our Super 50/50 fundraiser,” Baughman explained. “Every game we have a 50/50, and you’ll see me in the stands hopping 50/50 tickets, but the kids and their parents are going to be selling them. Five tickets are $20, and then the winner gets half, but it’s on a much greater level.”

The band will also host its annual auction at Jake & Henry’s in Downtown Fort Walton Beach in December, which raised nearly $7,000 last year. Additionally, a merchant fair at the school is planned for November, where all registration fees from participating vendors will directly benefit the band.

In preparation for the Military Bowl, the Viking Band is maintaining a rigorous practice schedule while balancing their regular performances. Their current halftime show, titled “Pass the Torch,” features an Olympic theme, showcasing various sports including swimming, fencing, and shot put.

• “It’s very different from our last couple shows,” Maris explained. “We have synchronized swimming and fencing, which is really fun as color guard, because we get to use our swords and fence. We’re doing a relay race at the end of the show.”

The band will also perform at a free Veterans Day concert on November 7 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation in Destin. This event will serve as a patriotic prelude to their Military Bowl appearance and is open to the public.

“We are incredibly excited and honored for the Fort Walton Beach Viking Band to perform at the Military Bowl in December,” said Fort Walton Beach High School Principal Lindsey Smith. “Coming from a proud military community, this opportunity means so much to our students, our school, and the entire community. It’s a privilege to represent Fort Walton Beach on a national stage and showcase our talented band while celebrating our deep connection to the military.”

As the band prepares for their journey, set to depart on December 26 and return on December 30, the excitement is palpable. For many students, this trip represents more than just a performance opportunity — it’s a chance to honor their community’s military heritage and be part of a longstanding tradition of excellence.

“We’re enjoying the process,” Fields said, reflecting on the preparations. “No matter how hard we ask the students to work, they’re right there. They don’t complain. They handle a lot of things logistically just to be able to operate at a high level.”

For more information about sponsorship opportunities or to support the Viking Band’s trip, please get in touch with Fort Walton Beach High School at (850) 833-3046 or visit https://fwbhs-band.com/sponsorships.