BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) -- The bands were from Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, and before a substantial crowd at Tiger Stadium, they put on quite a show.
Its members say it's about precision, beauty and excellent musicianship.
Marching bands of all shapes and sizes went toe-to-toe to win the big one at Tiger Stadium in Booneville.
It's a day that band members and their parents look forward to.
"Oh yes, we're super excited, yes. Every weekend," Booneville resident Wendy Cox said.
"It's beautiful. I love it," said Jimmie Smith, a parent from Ripley.
"We really love this band and we really we love what we do. We just want to go out here and show these people a real good time," said Sam Howard, a member of the Shannon High School Marching Band.
"I'm a senior," replied Dasha McKinley of the Red Raider Band. "This is my last go-round here at Northeast and I really want me and my fellow band students to bring back an award to Shannon."
With some 22 bands on hand here Saturday, officials say that it's important that the bands get on and off the field very quickly.
And once on the field, they only perform for a very short period of time. That's long enough for judges to get a good look at what the bands can do, though.
"There is a lot of work that goes into a band contest, hosting one and for the bands that are performing," said Northeast Community College Director of Bands Bryan Mitchell. "They come out here, these band work from the summer until it gets cold with their shows. And they come out here with a panel of judges and just show what they've been working on and show them what they have. And usually its a really good product."
Mitchell said the uniforms and various themes add a lot of variety from band to band, but that's not what really makes a difference to the judges.
"Everyone talks about sound and props and all this stuff, but it all boils down to the students," Mitchell said. "If the students are in and buying in to what's going on, the show will always be great."
This marks the 30th year Northeast has hosted the contest.
Houston High School from Germantown, Tenn., won the 4A-6A sweepstakes award and best overall at the competition. Booneville High School claimed the 2A-3A sweepstakes award Saturday night.
