Mid-Prairie Marching Band plays for RAGBRAI bicyclists Friday. Photos by Sam McIntosh.

RAGBRAI isn’t a race but riders were treated to the Queen song “Bicycle Race” as they entered Kalona by members of the Mid-Prairie Marching Band.

The band played Friday, taking requests and welcoming bicyclists as the Mid-Prairie Fine Arts Boosters sold food and beverages downtown to help raise funds for new marching band uniforms. Vocal music teacher Heather Herschberger explains the need for new uniforms, “Well the ones we are using we have had for a good 20 years and so it is just high time to let the band have new uniforms. They’ve been doing particularly well in the last number of years placing first and winning some awards so we just think they deserve to look as good as they sound.”

Percussionist Evan Meader shares how it feels to play music to thousands Friday, “There’s a lot of energy and it’s all a lot of positive energy it seems as though everyone’s enjoying what we’re doing here.”

Mid-Prairie recently received a Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant of $17,500 for new band uniforms, which they hope to purchase by spring of 2019. The “Bicycle Race” will continue for the band as they gear up for a Queen-themed marching band show this fall.

Steph Schrock welcomes bicyclists to Kalona.