After only two years, the Albert Lea Festival of Bands has become one of the city’s largest events, drawing 12,000 to 15,000 visitors and entertaining residents with a day of good perfrormances.

The City of Albert Lea has done its part to help the festival succeed, donating $1,000 each of the first three years of the festival, including this year, as of last night.

The festival also relies on support from private sources, and that support has been there for the first two years. It’s important that those who want to see the continued success of the event continue to support it. There is much to gain, from the relatively short-lived economic boost caused by a one-weekend influx of visitors, to the more long-term visibility and possible repeat visits from band festival participants.

Having a summer schedule full of solid events is important to a successful city, and the Festival of Bands has helped make an already-busy calendar even more full of recreational opportunities.

The city and all private donors are to be congratulated for helping make the event one that residents and young musicians around the state are looking forward to.