One of the nation’s largest collegiate marching bands is headed to Put-in-Bay this summer.
The Bowling Green State University Falcon Marching Band has been added to the lineup for Declaration 250, a major patriotic celebration being presented by The Perry Group on Sunday, Aug. 2, to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
According to BGSU, 375 members of the Falcon Marching Band will travel from the Ohio mainland aboard Miller Ferry before entering Put-in-Bay Harbor by boat while performing patriotic music and BGSU school songs.
Once on South Bass Island, the band will parade through downtown Put-in-Bay before taking part in the day’s signature fireworks-filled concert at Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial.
The Falcon Marching Band, one of the nation’s largest college marching bands, will be one of only two collegiate marching bands participating in Declaration 250.
For local residents, the performance will include a familiar face. Put-in-Bay High School graduate Jacob Seaman is a member of the BGSU Falcon Marching Band Twirlers and is expected to return home as part of the university’s Declaration 250 performance.
Presented by The Perry Group, the free event will feature a military flyover, a performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Lee Greenwood, fireworks, historical commemorations, and additional patriotic programming throughout the day.
“The Falcon Marching Band is proud to represent BGSU and perform as part of this historic event to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of independence,” said Jon Waters, director of marching and athletic bands and assistant teaching professor at BGSU.
The Falcon Marching Band has also been selected to perform in the 2027 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, following a competitive national selection process. The band previously performed in the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland, where it was one of only three collegiate marching bands from around the world invited to participate.
BGSU’s Falcon Marching Band is the university’s largest student organization and is made up primarily of non-music majors.
Photo courtesy of BGSU.