International Tuba Day

Festival Location: Millersville, PA, USA

Festival State: Pennsylvanian Festivals

Festival Type(s): Varied Music Festivals, Bizarre Festivals

By: © Nelson Taylor 2009

When you think of a tuba player, does the following come to mind? Fat, pudgy cheeks, back of the line, no musical talent, no personality, bag of wind? If so, you have tuba issues and you just might do yourself and the world of tubists a favor and hit the annual Tuba Day celebration held every May.

The event has been held since 1982 in order to recognize tubists in musical organizations around the world who have to go through the hassle of handling a tuba. What organizer Joel Day wants people to understand is that tubas are the backbone of any band. Not only is this a big feel-good support group, there's also lots of great tuba music on hand. Some 50 brass huggers show up every year to blow themselves proud. The crowd? Well, it's a whopping 300 people...but it's free.