This is the ninth year that the Halls High School Marching Band has kicked off the fall season with the Food City Frenzy, a combination fundraiser and pep rally that ends with the band marching and playing inside the Halls grocery store.
But the tradition goes back further than that, before Kroger closed in Halls and store manager Mike Shorter retired. For many years, the Halls band marched around that store and played tunes from the upcoming halftime show.
Band members and their parents, grandparents and siblings got together Saturday, Aug. 4, to wash cars, sell Cruze Farm ice cream and other goodies, and get the community’s school spirit warmed up.
Band director Eric Baumgardner said the band program is growing at Halls. This year’s ensemble is 138 strong, the most he’s seen in a season.
Halls Food City manager Travis Woody said it’s always a pleasure to host the band.
“We enjoy it,” he said. “I think the customers enjoy it, and the kids enjoy it.”
The newly remodeled store afforded much more space for the band than last year, and they ended the set in the expanded bakery and deli’s 865 Cafe.
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The Halls High School Marching Band warms up outside the Halls Food City.
Halls Food City manager Travis Woody chats with band director Eric Baumgardner at Food City Frenzy.
Horns play in the meat department during Food City Frenzy.
The drum major leads the players in the floral department at Halls Food City.