ALLIANCE, Ohio — As announced earlier this year, Bluecoats and the University of Mount Union entered a long-term agreement that will keep the Bluecoats Spring Training, The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp, Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration, and the Bluecoats Fellowship Residency on Mount Union’s campus for the next five years. The six-week event, held each summer, is the pre-season training camp for the world champion Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. The camp will take place through Monday, July 1.

The camp has brought more than 250 performers and staff members to the Mount Union campus and Alliance community. Events like The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp, Bluecoats Fellowship, and Band Director Days will bring additional high school music students, educators, and fans to the campus beyond those involved with the corps’ Spring Training.

A Community Day event will be held on Thursday, June 20, and will offer an opportunity to grab a bite to eat from several local food trucks and catch a sneak peek of a Bluecoats’ rehearsal. Food trucks, including A-Town Burgers, BJ’s Kitchen, Southern Thangs, Sea Food-N-Eat, Sip N Lick, and Koda Concessions, will be open in the University parking lot at the corner of State Street and Rockhill Avenue from 4 to 8 p.m., and the Bluecoats rehearsal will begin at 6:45 p.m. in Kehres Stadium.

Additional events include the Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration, showcasing the world premiere of the 2024 Bluecoats with local music and arts programming like Bluecoats’ local 18+ ensemble Rhythm IN BLUE, and the EN-RICH-MENT Drumline in addition to performances by other community and Ohio-based ensembles. This Opening Night Community Celebration will be held at Kehres Stadium on June 29. Ticketing and additional information on this event and others in the Bluecoats Summer Music Series can be found at bluecoats.com/events.

For more information on the Community Day and Community Celebration, contact the Office of Communication at (330) 823-6050 or information@mountunion.edu.

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About Bluecoats - Founded in 1972, Bluecoats is a 501(c)3 non-profit performing arts education organization known around the world for the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, The Blue Way Educational Events, Bluecoats School of the Arts, Rhythm IN BLUE, and more. Bluecoats brings performing arts education to thousands of aspiring young musicians in Stark County and around the globe. For more information, visit bluecoats.com/about.