Frequently Asked Questions

When you apply, please provide us with your best estimate. You will have several opportunities to adjust your enrollment after you apply. Be sure you only count each student one time, regardless of the number of performing groups they are in.

You will receive complimentary tickets for the number of directors you bring-however it cannot total more than two directors per performing group. (example: if you bring two groups and have three directors, you will receive three complimentary tickets. if you bring two groups and have five directors, you will receive four complimentary tickets.)

The Director is included as one of the FREE adults.

No. Your invoice will reflect the total number of students and the total number of adults attending the festival.

Students holding season passes, or who will not be entering the park for any other reason, will be charged the Festival-Only cost of $20.00. There will be no charge for adults holding season passes. Branson Festival-Only charges are $35.00

Yes. All groups must provide a seating chart via the form emailed prior to your performance date.

All comments will be recorded by a panel of two judges. Heartland will provide USBs for each group to receive recorded adjudications.

For the most part, performances take place between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

On your registration form, there is a place for you to request a performance time. Please note that we do our best to accommodate your wishes, but preferences will be made for groups that enroll early, groups that have to travel a long distance, and the number of groups from each school that are performing that day. We will do our best to accommodate your request, however, please keep in mind that these are just requests.

The performance schedule is emailed 10-14 days prior to the festival date. You can also check this website for updated schedules and call for a schedule to be faxed or emailed to your school. Please keep in mind that we do our best to get the schedules out early, but factors such as last-minute and heavy enrollment days come into play when we schedule.

Uniforms are not required. The attire of the group is left up to the discretion of each Director and will not be factored into the adjudicators’ ratings. Most groups do not wear uniforms; however, many wear their band, orchestra, or choral shirts. This does not affect the adjudication of your group.

Performances take place at local schools, churches, colleges, or other performance venues located near the amusement park.

Schools are welcome to arrive in advance of their scheduled performance time to view other performances. Our main request is that respect be given to the performing group. No instrument playing, tuning, or loud talking in the waiting area is permissible.

If published scores cannot be supplied, copies are acceptable and legal, provided they are destroyed after use.

There are no required selections. Each group performs music appropriate to their level of development.

We provide chairs, risers, an acoustic or electric piano (not guaranteed 88 keys), a director podium, a bass drum, three timpani, and a xylophone. You MUST bring all other percussion, mallets, and sticks. Vocal groups must provide their own “boombox” for performances, if needed. Groups must also have their iPhone or MP3 if required.

In the warm-up room, we provide chairs and a piano. There are no stands available and we apologize for the inconvenience that this may bring; however, your warm-up time is limited to fifteen minutes, so time in the room is very little. Vocal groups will need to provide their own “boombox” for warm-up as one is NOT guaranteed. A keyboard will be provided, but it will not be a standard keyboard.

That's easy! You can simply make the adjustment on your invoice prior to submitting the final payment or contact our office via email. Please note that even if you book your tickets through a third party, there is still a festival-only cost of $20.00/$35.00 per student.

Yes! You can pay directly at the festival registration desk.

Final numbers are due 5 days prior to the festival.

All student and adult tickets purchased through Heartland Music Fest will guarantee entry to the park on the dates listed on the ticket and a free meal.

In the event of rain, amusement parks, as a rule, will not close. Therefore, the festival will not be postponed or canceled due to weather. Many parks issue tickets that are valid only on the day of the festival. If the park is operating on the day of your festival and you decide not to visit the park, you will not be refunded.

Most parks issue tickets that are valid only on the days of the festival. Please check your ticket for the dates as they are printed on the front. You may also check on this website for the dates for this year’s festival and those are the days that the tickets can be used.

Bus drivers get in free if they need to show their CDL at the window.

You will receive your tickets at the performance site on the day of the festival. At the festival desk, your tickets will be counted out for your group(s). You will sign the invoice acknowledging receipt of tickets. Once you have left the festival site, there will be no adjustments for unused tickets. Please have your counts ready when you check out.

Yes! Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the festival registration desk.

The 2023 gate cost at Frontier City is $79.99

When you are a guest at the festival, there is no fee to park a regulation school bus or a bus charted by the school. If you have an instrument truck that is traveling with the school and there is no identification on the vehicle, please let me know in advance of the festival date so I can make arrangements for parking. If advance notice is not received, then there will be a parking fee for the instrumental vehicle.

The Frontier City fee is $30.00 per car entry. I will have car vouchers on sale at the festival site for $20.00.

Silver Dollar City, Branson does not require a parking fee.

Each meal consists of 2 hotdogs, baked beans, chips, a choice of brownie or cookie, and a drink.

You can collect your meal between 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM or 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

You will receive your meal at the Red Pavillion or the Yellow Pavillion.

Bus Drivers and Directors will need to purchase their meals separately. They are $15.00 each.

Yes. Drink wristbands can be purchased during registration or at the festival site. They are $15.00 each. This will cover unlimited drinks for that entire day.

Silver Dollar City meal tickets are $18.00 each.

Silver Dollar City meal tickets are accepted at all non-buffet restaurants.

They are $18 each.