Despite all the world travels, the band has as it's origins and source of strength a long and continuing history of performances all around the North Country, most in connection with Fire Department fund raisers. Fire Department Field Days used to be a weekly occurance around Northern NY, and a few still survive. A large parades precedes the opening of activities on the field. Fire departments show their newest, shiniest trucks. Candidates for various elected offices walk the route and converse and shake hands with the folks along the way.
Various groups have floats or special entries.
There are usually a couple of horses. Kids involved on sports teams or in Scouts wave flags and march along. In other words, your 'typical' hometown parade. Somewhere in the middle of this, following the Norwood Fire Department, comes the Brass firemen, who pride themselves on being probably the loudest band, in spite of being smaller than most other entries. Once on the field, the Brass Firemen dutifully march to the 'performance area', usually in close proximity to the 'beverage' sales.