MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Drum Corps International competition returns to Hutchinson next week as the Hutchinson-based Sky Ryders host the DCI Hutchinson Tour event Tuesday, July 14, at Gowans Stadium on the Hutchinson Community College campus.
The competition begins at 8 p.m. and will feature six drum corps from across the country, including the Blue Stars, Troopers, Blue Knights, Madison Scouts, Spartans, Music City, and the hometown Sky Ryders.
Tickets are available online through the Drum Corps International website. Fans may also purchase tickets at the gate, although all ticket sales are digital and cash is no longer accepted.
The Hutchinson event marks the second stop on the Sky Ryders' 2026 summer tour and serves as the organization's home performance.
"We have six drum corps from all over the country coming," Dale Antoine the Executive Director of the Sky Ryders said. "We're very excited about that."
In addition to the on-field competition, the evening will include a milestone for the organization as the Sky Ryders hold the inaugural induction ceremony for their Hall of Fame.
"We're also doing our first-ever inaugural Hall of Fame class for Sky Ryders, something that we had never done in the past," Antoine said. "We're inducting six different people and families into our first class of Hall of Fame."
The Sky Ryders are scheduled to perform shortly after the competition begins, taking the field at approximately 8:10 p.m.
Organizers are hoping to build on the success of their last Hutchinson show, which drew about 1,200 spectators. The event was not held in Hutchinson last year because the DCI tour followed a different route.
"This year it's back in our area, so we jumped on it right away," said Antoine. "Hutchinson Community College has been wonderful to work with at Gowans Stadium."
The lineup features corps from several states, including Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Wyoming. Headlining the competition is the Blue Stars of La Crosse, Wisconsin, currently ranked ninth nationally.
"It's going to be a really, really nice evening," Antoine said. "Keep your fingers crossed that the weather is good, and hopefully people will be excited to see us for our second season out on the field."
Questions about group tickets can be directed to Dale Antoine at dantoine@dci.org or (920) 737-3986.