Paschal and Arlington Heights high schools are taking their marching bands to the streets Saturday morning.
The seven-year marching band tradition is continuing Saturday morning, as the two local high school bands will be marching nearly 10 kilometers across Fort Worth and ending the march with a good-spirited drumline battle.
Paschal’s Panther Marching Band will be departing from the school, which is on Forest Park Boulevard. Students will have two performance stops: one at Bluebonnet Circle and the other at Foster Park, said Clint Bond, communications director for FWISD.

The Arlington Heights Yellow Jacket Band will be starting their journey from Monnig Middle School. They will meet up with the Panthers at the Trinity Commons Shopping Center at Hulen Street and Bellaire Drive around noon, Bond said.

Once the two bands meet up at the Trinity Commons Shopping Center, “that’s where they will have their drumline battle,” Bond said.

The battle of the bands is meant to be good-spirited and is all “designed to build excitement and generate support for both great music programs,” according to a district press release.
The event began seven years ago as a way to raise money for Paschal’s annual band trip as well as other events throughout the year, Bond said.
“The school district provides money for a lot of stuff, but the bands want to do additional things so they raise that money on their own,” Bond said.
The students have solicited pledges for each kilometer of the march from their friends, family, and local businesses, Bond said.
The 10-kilometer distance is a long one, but Bond said the students and parents are passionate about the event and are willing to march in the heat for the sake of the band programs.
The event could always use more volunteers, according to the Paschal band website. You can go here to find more information and options to help out.