The Drum Corps International World Championships, Aug. 5-10, 2013, will mark a week-long celebration of the world's most elite marching music ensembles. Featuring a high level of performance excellence coupled with an intense competitive spirit, more than 35 drum and bugle corps filled with dedicated young performers will take the field throughout the week, creating unparalleled excitement as they vie for the World Championship title. But the World Championships are more than competition and placements. Thousands of drum corps alums, family members and fans will travel to share in the excitement and view the excellence presented on the field during this year's Finals Week, before another summer season is written into the history books. The week kicks off in Michigan City, Ind., with the Open Class Prelims and Finals Monday and Tuesday Aug. 5 and 6. Events will then move to Indianapolis, beginning with the Individual & Ensemble Championship and Kickoff Party and Hall of Fame Induction on Wednesday, Aug. 7, before the action moves into Lucas Oil Stadium Aug. 8-10 for three incredible days of competition. Bookmark this page, as we'll be updating this guide throughout the week of the Championships with additional events and new information that becomes available! New and notable for the 2013 World Championships:
  • Michigan City's Ames Field in Northwest Indiana will once again host the Open Class World Championship in its entirety over two days of competition.
  • All World and Open Class corps will go head-to-head starting with the World Championship Prelims at Lucas Oil Stadium.
  • Featuring both World and Open Class corps, the Individual & Ensemble Championship presented by System Blue will take place in a new, festival-like outdoor atmosphere on Georgia Street in Downtown Indianapolis.
  • A brand new event that's free and open to the public, fans can meet up with fellow drum corps fans at the historic Omni Severin Hotel following the World Championship Semifinals on Friday, Aug. 9 for an after-party of epic proportions.
  • Food, Flams and Fun! Saturday morning of the World Championship Finals, downtown Indianapolis will be rockin' with demonstrations of DCI's two new initiatives, SoundSport and DrumLine Battle, along with a beer tent, food trucks, and more!
  • DCI will once again present the INpact Indiana's Future Band made up entirely on Indiana middle school musicians. Special guest performers will include Maynard Ferguson soloist great Patrick Hessions and drum corps' very own Al Chez!
  • DCI will host a Kick Start leadership workshop Saturday Aug. 10, free for students with a ticket to the World Championship Finals.
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Eastern time zone unless otherwise noted.

Ames Field

MONDAY, AUGUST 5

Open Class Prelims Where: Ames Field, 2501 Franklin St./State Route 421, Michigan City, Indiana When: Event starts at 4:00 p.m. (CT) Admission: $15 general admission About: In its sixth year in Michigan City, the Open Class Semifinals will kick off all 2013 World Championship events. Taking place at Ames Field, an intimate stadium built with drum corps in mind, this event will feature all participating Open Class corps. View the lineup and performance times for this event.

Open Class World Championship Finale

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6

Open Class Finals Where: Ames Field, 2501 Franklin St./State Route 421, Michigan City, Indiana When: Event starts at 6:00 p.m. (CT) Admission: $25 reserved, $15 general admission About: The DCI World Championships continue on Tuesday, Aug. 6 as the 12 top scoring Open Class corps from the Open Class Prelims compete for the title of World Champion. View the 2013 Open Class World Championship Finals lineup. 

Georgia Street in Downtown Indianapolis

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7

Individual & Ensemble Championship presented by System Blue Where: Georgia Street, Downtown Indianapolis When: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission: Free and open to the public About: Drum Corps International's Individual & Ensemble (I&E) Championship presented by System Blue will return to its traditional unified format in 2013, where members from the World and Open Classes will compete head-to-head. This year's event will be held outdoors in a vibrant, festival-like atmosphere on Georgia Street in Downtown Indianapolis, with color guard performances indoors at the Indianapolis ArtsGarden. Learn more about the 2013 Individual & Ensemble Championship. Hall of Fame Kickoff Party Where: Historic Union Station, 39 Jackson Place, Downtown Indianapolis When: 9:30 p.m. Admission: Access to the ballroom is free and open to the public About: Kicking off World Championship celebrations in downtown Indianapolis, this annual party will include a special recognition of the newly inducted DCI Hall of Fame Class of 2013, live music, raffles, auctions and other entertainment to keep the festivities running late into the night. Proceeds will benefit various Hall of Fame projects, one of which is the Jim Jones Leadership Scholarship, an award administered by a committee of Hall of Fame members. 

The Warm-up Zone at Military Park

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8

DCI Headquarters Open House Where: 110 W. Washington St., Suite C (Northwest corner of Illinois and Washington Streets, below Panera and Weber Grill), Downtown Indianapolis When: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Admission: Free and open to the public About: Stop on by and have a chat with Drum Corps International employees while taking a tour through the DCI corporate headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. Be sure to make a stop at the Percussive Arts Society's Rhythm Discovery Center which is located right next door. Corps Warm-Up Zone Where: Military Park, 601 W. New York St., Downtown Indianapolis When: Early morning until last performing corps warms up Admission: Free and open to the public About: Come see your favorite corps warming up before their competitive Prelims performances at historic Military Park, a 14-acre green space bordering the campus of IUPUI. Military Park is a little less than a mile from Lucas Oil Stadium. Learn more about Military Park.

The Festival Marketplace inside Lucas Oil Stadium
 DCI Festival Marketplace Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis Marketplace Hours: 8:00 a.m. until stadium clears at the end of the Prelims event Admission: Free with your ticket to the Prelims About: Grab some cool new gear from DCI, your favorite corps and DCI's corporate sponsors! Entertainment, souvenirs, information, and other items and activities will be awaiting. Immediately upon entering Lucas Oil Stadium's east-side entrance, fans will find themselves immersed in the Festival Marketplace with booths lining the concourse leading to the seating area. World Championship Prelims Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Gates open at 10:00 a.m., first corps steps off at 10:30 a.m. Admission: Tickets start at $25 About: 2013 marks the fifth anniversary of World Championship events at Lucas Oil Stadium. In addition to the performances of all 22 World Class groups, Open Class corps will also be invited to compete at this all-day event, featuring more than 35 corps. View the lineup and performance times for this event. Big, Loud & Live 10 Cinema Event Where: More than 600 movie theaters across the U.S. When: 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, lasts approximately five hours Admission: $18, but may vary by theater location About: If you can't make it to Lucas Oil Stadium, you can still take part in the World Championships excitement. Celebrate the "best of the best" as Drum Corps International presents its 2013 World Championship Prelims on the big screen! Presented by DCI and National Cinemedia's Fathom Events, "Big, Loud & Live 10," will be broadcast from Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium bringing you the complete live performances of the top 15 corps and highlights from throughout the day. Learn more and find a theater near you!

Lucas Oil Stadium

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9

Marching Music Academy for Teachers & Instructors Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Admission: $149 for music educators and $49 for future music educators which includes all materials, two meals and and event tickets About: DCI presents a two-day edition of its acclaimed Marching Music Academy, featuring some of the world's most recognized experts in marching music. Open this year to both music educators and future music educators, attendees will have the chance to interact with presenters covering a range of topics in the marching arts from creativity to competition. DCI Headquarters Open House Where: 110 W. Washington St., Suite C (Northwest corner of Illinois and Washington Streets, below Panera and Weber Grill), Downtown Indianapolis When: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission: Free and open to the public About: Stop on by and have a chat with Drum Corps International employees while taking a tour through the DCI corporate headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. Be sure to make a stop at the Percussive Arts Society's Rhythm Discovery Center which is located right next door.

Lucas Oil Stadium
Corps Warm-Up Zone Where: Military Park, 601 W. New York St., Downtown Indianapolis When: Approx. noon until the last performing corps warms up Admission: Free and open to the public About: Watch your favorite corps warm up before they take the field for the Semifinals competition. Military Park is a little less than a mile from Lucas Oil Stadium. A shuttle bus to and from Lucas Oil Stadium and the Warm-Up Zone will run from approximately 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. DCI Festival Marketplace Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis Hours: 12:30 p.m. until stadium clears after the Semifinals event Admission: Free with your ticket to the Semifinals About: Purchase souvenirs and other merchandise from your favorite World and Open Class corps, Drum Corps International and more! The Festival Marketplace in 2013 is located throughout the main stadium concourse leading from the stadium's east entrance to the seating areas. World Championship Semifinals Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Gates open to marketplace 12:30 p.m., First corps steps off 2:00 p.m. Admission: Tickets start at $25 About: The World Championship Semifinals features DCI's top 25 corps as determined by Thursday's Prelims event. These corps will duke it out for a spot in the coveted "Top 12," giving them one more chance to perform on Saturday.

Age-Out Ceremony at Lucas Oil Stadium
Age-Out Ceremony & Awards Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Following Semifinals performances Admission: Included as part of admission to the Semifinals About: Drum Corps International honors the graduating class of 2013 – corps members who have dedicated their time, passion and hard work to the drum corps activity over many years in this special ceremony. Also recognized will be the Hall of Fame Class of 2013 and other corps member scholarship recipients. DCI World Championships After-Party Where: Omni Severin Hotel, 40 W. Jackson Place, Downtown Indianapolis When: 11:00 p.m., following the Semifinals event Admission: Free and open to the public. Food and drink available for purchase. About: Celebrating its 100th anniversary in Downtown Indianapolis, the beautiful Omni Severin will be the site of the DCI World Championships After-Party following the Semifinals competition at Lucas Oil Stadium. Open to all fans, music and entertainment will be abound, including some "special surprise appearances" to make this first-ever event a not-to-miss celebration!

Fans at Lucas Oil Stadium

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

Marching Music Academy for Teachers & Instructors Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Admission: $149 for music educators and $49 for future music educators which includes all materials, two meals and and event tickets About: DCI presents day two of its acclaimed Marching Music Academy, featuring workshops with some of the world's most recognized experts in marching music. The Saturday sessions will feature staff and students of the Northview High School Marching Band from Brazil, Ind., and participants will have a chance to ask questions as part of this interactive forum during a real-time rehearsal session. DrumLine Battle Demonstration Where: Georgia Street, Downtown Indianapolis When: Beginning at 11:00 a.m Admission: Free and open to the public About: Throughout the day prior to the start of the World Championship Finals, Downtown Indy will be slamming to the rhythm of a massive DrumLine Battle. DrumLine Battle is a live, high-energy, entertainment-focused competition for percussion ensembles of less than 31 performers. More than 20 lines will be on hand including those of DCI drum corps and even a very special appearance by a drum line visiting all the way from Thailand! Along with the exceptional drum lines, you'll be able to enjoy a variety of local gourmet food trucks and a beer tent as the DrumLine Battle makes its Indianapolis debut. Find out more about DrumLine Battle.

INpact Indiana's Future Band
SoundSport Festival Where: South Street, Downtown Indianapolis (in front of Lucas Oil Stadium) When: Beginning at 2:30 p.m. Admission: Free and open to the public. About: Another of Drum Corps International's newest performance initiatives, SoundSport showcases ensembles of five to 50 performers. SoundSport teams including the Glassmen Alumni, Jersey Surf and the Surf Tones, Star United, and more, will perform just outside Lucas Oil Stadium on South Street welcoming fans to the Finals. Learn more about SoundSport on Facebook. Kick Start Leadership Workshop Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: 3:00 p.m. Admission: Free and open to students with a ticket to the Finals About: "Kick Start" your fall marching band season with DCI and motivational speaker Fran Kick! Kick's interactive and engaging leadership presentation will inspire students to reach new levels of responsibility, discipline and self awareness, all while nurturing the core values that will help them succeed in life. 

World Championship Finale at Lucas Oil Stadium
Corps Warm-Up Zone Where: Military Park, 601 W. New York St., Downtown Indianapolis When: Approx. 4:00 p.m. until last performing corps warms up Admission: Free and open to the public About: Watch your favorite corps warm up before they take the field for their final performances of the 2013 season. Military Park is a little less than a mile from Lucas Oil Stadium. A shuttle bus for fans will run between Lucas Oil Stadium and Military Park from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. DCI Festival Marketplace Hours: 3:30 p.m. until stadium clears after the Finals event Admission: Free with admission to the Finals About: Depending on how many Championship events you'll be attending this week, here's either your first or final opportunity to purchase souvenirs from Drum Corps International, the corps and DCI's corporate sponsors! Pre-show Performances Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Preceding the Finals competition Admission: Free with admission to the Finals About: After completing a whirlwind tour of Indianapolis for rehearsals and activities the day before, the INpact Indiana's Future Band, an ensemble made up entirely of Indiana middle school students will perform as part of the opening ceremonies of the World Championship Finals. The group is set to play "America the Beautiful" and "Gonna Fly Now" from the motion picture "Rocky" alongside some very special guest artists; Maynard Ferguson soloist great Patrick Hessions and drum corps' very own Al Chez from the Late Night Orchestra. World Championship Finals Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Gates open to Festival Marketplace at 3:30 p.m., Awards Ceremony is at 10:30 p.m. Admission: Tickets start at $35 About: The top 12 drum corps will compete for the last time in 2013 for the chance to be named World Champion and affix their corps' name to the DCI Founder's Trophy. Take a look at the Finals lineup. Special events and times subject to change