AIKEN, Sc () – Joye in Aiken is a non-profit founded in 2008 that is dedicated to bringing some of the best artists and musicians to the Aiken community.

The New Orleans style Funeral Parade kicked off the week with middle and high schoolers playing classic Mardi Gras tunes.

The marching band was led by Riley Mulherkar, a professional trumpet player from New York.

Janice Jennings, Executive Director of Joye in Aiken, says everyone looks forward to the festival every year.

“It’s so exciting for us, we plan this all year long. It’s a lot of work to bring all these artists from across the country, sometimes around the world, and to plan the outreach program with thousands of kids involved every year, so or us it’s really rewarding, the reward is seeing the community respond great to this festival.” 

The Joye in Aiken festival has been held annually with artists and musicians coming primarily from The Julliard School.

The band director at Aiken High School, Mickey Ratliff, says it was exciting to be able to see his students relax and have fun.

“It’s so different from what we do with marching band, normally we wear uniforms, we practice very rigorously, and we have to stay in straight lines and play certain songs and have a certain routine. Here, we just get together and we walk along as a mob and play and have fun, it’s a whole different vibe, it’s a lot of fun.” 

This was Alexandra Davis’s first year playing in the second line parade and says she lived seeing the community come out to support.

“Having all of the people follow us, it’s very encouraging because people don’t really follow band programs that much and at football games we kind of sit there in the corner playing whatever and people don’t care but   having people follow us and participate was really fun and motivation to keep going.” 

The festival runs through the end of next week and features music, dancing, and ticketed events around the city.