Music in the Parks is a one‑ or two‑day adjudicated festival where school and church choirs perform for ratings and then spend time at a host amusement park such as Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Hersheypark (PA), Cedar Point (OH), and Six Flags Great America (IL).
Festival structure for choirs
Registration is typically handled directly with Music in the Parks well in advance of the spring season (many programs now open the following year’s registration the previous April). Events run March–June at multiple parks nationwide, with ensembles choosing a date and location (e.g., Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Hersheypark, Cedar Point, Six Flags Great America).
Core elements: - Ensemble categories: Choirs are entered by level (middle school/junior high vs. high school) and by size (A vs. AA based on school size). - Performance and adjudication: Choirs perform at off‑park venues (schools or churches in the region) before experienced music educators (“master adjudicators”) who provide written and recorded comments and assign ratings or rankings. - Adjudicator packets: Directors must provide two original scores of each adjudicated piece with measures numbered, plus an announcer sheet with ensemble details. - Ratings/awards: Ensembles receive a rating (e.g., Excellent, Superior) and may compete for placement within classification; awards can go to whole ensembles or individual performers. - Awards ceremony: After a day at the park, choirs attend an evening awards ceremony at a designated location near or in the park.
Host park specifics (for planning)
All of these parks appear in the Music in the Parks location list. For bus routing and budgeting, note approximate locations and group scale:
- Universal Orlando Resort, FL – Orlando; large multi‑park resort (Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure). High capacity for student groups; peak March–May weekends are heavily booked.
- SeaWorld Orlando, FL – Orlando; marine theme park with shows and rides. Often paired with other Orlando attractions on longer tours.
- Hersheypark, PA – Hershey; regional park in central Pennsylvania, commonly used by East Coast choirs and bands.
- Cedar Point, OH – Sandusky; major Midwest coaster park on Lake Erie; draws large band/choir circuits, especially from OH, MI, IN.
- Six Flags Great America, IL – Gurnee (between Chicago and Milwaukee); serves a wide Chicago‑area school market.
Typical 4‑day festival format for choirs
Many church and school choirs stretch the essentially 1‑ or 2‑day festival into a 4‑day trip for logistics and rest:
- Day 1 – Travel day
- Depart home by motorcoach.
- En route stretch and vocal rest stops.
- Evening hotel check‑in near festival performance site or near park.
- Day 2 – Performance/adjudication day
- Morning warm‑up at hotel, then travel to adjudication site (often a host school or church).
- Perform, listen to at least one peer ensemble if schedule allows.
- Short clinic or on‑stage feedback if offered.
- Afternoon limited park time or local activity; early night for vocal recovery.
- Day 3 – Theme park & awards
- Full day in Universal, SeaWorld, Hersheypark, Cedar Point, or Six Flags Great America (depending on registration).
- Evening Music in the Parks awards ceremony at designated park/venue.
- Post‑ceremony group photo, debrief, lights‑out.
- Day 4 – Return travel
- Load coaches after breakfast.
- Reflection and listening to adjudicator recordings on the bus.
- Evening arrival home.
Host‑hotel block strategy
Music in the Parks sells a combined festival + park package, but housing is usually booked separately by the school/church or a tour operator. For groups targeting the listed parks:
- Lead time
- Book hotel blocks 6–9 months out for April–May weekends at Universal, SeaWorld, Hersheypark, Cedar Point, and Six Flags Great America; earlier (9–12 months) for large districts or multiple ensembles.
- Aim to finalize rooming lists 45–60 days prior to arrival to lock in rates and room types.
- Hotel selection in key markets
- Orlando (Universal/SeaWorld): mid‑scale properties near International Drive, Universal Blvd, or SeaWorld corridor; look for interior corridors, free breakfast, and bus parking.
- Hersheypark: Hershey/Hummelstown/Harrisburg area limited‑service chains; confirm bus parking and quiet hours.
- Cedar Point: Sandusky and surrounding communities; park‑owned hotels may be costlier but reduce transfer time.
- Six Flags Great America: Gurnee/Waukegan/Libertyville; prioritize easy I‑94 access.
- Block protections
- Target 2–4 students per room (quad doubles common for budgets).
- Request comp policy (e.g., 1 free room per 15–20 paid).
- Ask for written group contract with attrition dates and motorcoach parking notes.
Lodging budget per student (planning ranges)
Exact rates vary by city and date, but for spring festival weekends at these parks, realistic per‑student lodging targets (hotel only, 3 nights, quad occupancy):
- Orlando (Universal/SeaWorld): USD 180–240 per student (3 × 60–80 for mid‑scale hotel with breakfast).
- Hersheypark (PA): USD 150–210 per student (3 × 50–70).
- Cedar Point (OH): USD 150–210 per student, with Sandusky area seasonal variance.
- Six Flags Great America (IL): USD 165–225 per student (Chicago‑area pricing).
Total trip budgets must also include festival/park package fees (adjudication, admission, awards) often bundled per participant.
Required chaperone ratios (common practice)
Music in the Parks does not publish a single universal chaperone rule across all sites, but typical school district and tour‑operator standards around these parks are:
- Middle school/junior high choirs:
- 1 adult per 8–10 students on trip; many aim for 1:8.
- High school choirs:
- 1 adult per 10–12 students; some districts cap at 1:10 for overnight trips.
- Gender split and room checks:
- At least one adult of each gender if students are mixed‑gender.
- Clear bed‑sharing policies (only students, never adults with students) and nightly room checks documented in district policy.
Competitive choir packing checklist
For ensembles aiming to score well:
- Music & documentation
- Two original scores per piece with measures numbered for adjudicators.
- Announcer sheet with correct ensemble name, school/church, director, repertoire.
- Extra copies of music for singers who misplace folders.
- Printed festival schedule, warm‑up time, and venue directions.
- Performance wardrobe
- Full concert attire (dresses, tuxes, robes, or coordinated outfits).
- Black shoes and socks/hose; backups for broken shoes.
- Lint rollers, sewing kit, spare black belts/ties.
- Vocal/ensemble essentials
- Pitch pipe or tuning device.
- Water bottles (clear, if venue requires) and throat‑friendly snacks.
- Small first‑aid kit including cough drops allowed by policy.
- Admin & logistics
- Rooming lists and bus lists in hard copy and digital.
- Contact sheet for all adults; emergency cards for students.
- Permissions/medical forms aligned with district or church requirements.
Peak spring festival weekends
Music in the Parks concentrates events in the spring semester. For the highlighted parks, the busiest festival weekends (for both festival scheduling and park crowding) are typically:
- Late April through mid‑May Saturdays, especially:
- Last two weekends of April.
- First three weekends of May.
- Friday–Saturday combinations around those dates for 2‑day formats.
Registration for a given spring season is managed centrally; recent cycles show that popular parks and prime Saturdays can fill early, especially once registration opens for a new season (e.g., announcements about 2027 registration opening in mid‑April of the prior year).
For church and school choirs, aligning the desired park (Universal, SeaWorld, Hersheypark, Cedar Point, Six Flags Great America) with transportation distance, hotel availability, and those late‑April/May peak dates is the core strategic decision for a successful Music in the Parks festival trip.
Recommended Vehicle
47-passenger motor coach (typical) or 57-passenger (large choir + family chaperones) — from our church bus fleet. Restroom, cargo, climate control on motor coach models. See the full fleet sizing on our Fleet page.
Related Pages
- Parent guide: Church Choir Tour Charter Bus
- Related: Washington Dc Choir Tour
- Related: Carnegie Hall Festival Of Gold Choir Tour
- All trip types: Our Services