ABOVE: The Trimont Centennial Band plays in the Trimont FunFest parade on Saturday, July 8. The band will play in both the upcoming Welcome Summer parade and Truman Days parade.

TRIMONT– There’s been a consistent feature in many of the town festivals in Martin County this summer. The Trimont Centennial Band has played in the Interlaken Heritage Days Parade, Sherburn Holiday Festival parade, Trimont FunFest parade and has plans to play in the Welcome Summer parade and Truman Days parade.

Dennis Peterson of rural Sherburn has been in the band since it started. He said that the Trimont Centennial Band started at an all-school reunion back in 1999.

Peterson, an alumnus of the school, was at the reunion. He said the band was originally formed prior to the reunion by past band directors who were trying to get alumni to come back for the reunion.

“After that we decided to try to keep up the group together,” Peterson said.

He said it’s ended up being not all people local to Trimont, but that they have members come from Fairmont, Sherburn, Welcome and other areas in the county.

While the long-standing Fairmont City Band gets together to play just several nights throughout the summer, the Trimont Centennial Band will play for events throughout the year.

“We’re got it in a couple different blocks,” Peterson said.

Every June, the Trimont Centennial Band plays a concert at the park in Trimont. Of course, it plays in most of the parades for area summer festivals.

“Usually after parades are done we’re off until after the school year gets started. Then we get back together and try to put something together for a local Christmas concert,” Peterson said.

Nancy Gunter, another member of the Trimont Centennial Band, said in the winter they usually go to assisted living facilities and play music for residents there as well.

Peterson said around the end of March the band gets together to start practicing for all of its summer events. The band practices at the elementary school in Trimont, which Peterson said has worked well for them so far.

The number of people who play in the band varies but can hover around 20. The musicians are of different ages, ranging from high school students or those recently graduated to seasoned veterans.

The band also raises money from the parades and any donations it receives and sponsors a scholarship every year for a Martin County West senior.

All in all, the band serves as an opportunity for adults to get together to play instruments they may not otherwise have a reason to.

“It’s one way of people keeping up with playing their instruments as adults. There’s not a lot of groups to get together with and have some fun,” Peterson said.