Drum Corps Associates World Championships back in Rochester for its 21st years

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Thousands of people will be heading to Rochester this Labor Day weekend.

And it’s all for the 2023 Drum Corp Associates World Championships.

This is going to be the 21st year that the DCA World Championships have come to Rochester.

Founded in the 1960s, the DCA involves drum and bugle players throughout the U.S. and Canada. It provides them a competitive outlet as well as entertainment for audiences.

This weekend the championships are back in Rochester with 12 groups competing.

Don Jeffries, the president and CEO of Visit Rochester, says this is going to bring 4,000 people to the Rochester area.

He says this influx of people will boost the economy.

“Well, it affects the economy and that they stay in our hotels, they go to our restaurants, they buy gas at our gas stations, they use our dry cleaners. There’s all kinds of things that they do. So it’s a great economic impact. You know, they go to the grocery store to buy groceries and things for the band. So it’s really a very cool thing,” Jeffries said.

The DCA World Championship starts today at 5:30 p.m. at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Friday’s performance is free, but through the rest of the weekend you will need to purchase tickets for the performances at the Rochester Community Sports Complex in Rochester.

The performances on Friday night include a tribute to music legend and Rochester native Chuck Mangione. The performance, which celebrates Mangione’s impact on drum and bugle corps worldwide, begins at 8 p.m. at the convention center.

You can purchase tickets here: https://dcitickets.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=747

Here’s the schedule for the championship:

• Friday at 5:30 p.m. – The I&E and Mini Corps Competition at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center

• Saturday at 4 p.m. – DCA World Championship Prelims at the Rochester Community Sports Complex

• Sunday at 10 a.m. – Field performances by alumni corps at the Rochester Community Sports Complex

• Sunday at 5 p.m. – DCA World Championship Finals at the Rochester Community Sports Complex