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Drums Corps Associates World Championship good for Rochester economy

The Kidsgrove Scouts are getting ready for the DCA World Championships
Alex Crichton
The Kidsgrove Scouts are getting ready for the DCA World Championships

Thousands of people are expected to come to Rochester as it once again hosts the Drum Corps Associates World Championships this weekend.

This marks the 19th time Rochester has hosted the event.  That's more than any other city.

The Kidsgrove Scouts, from England, will be among those competing.

Drum Major Karrie Brett from London says this is her second straight year in Rochester for the competition, and she says there's a lot to like here.

"The city is great. Everyone is really welcoming when we came in yesterday.  So many fantastic people here, the restaurants are fantastic, the staff and the hotels are great.  DCA is perfect for us.  We're an entertaining drum corps, we're a powerhouse and we just want to get the crowd on their feet," she said.

Rochester is putting in a bid to host the championships once again, as the event moves to another city for a couple of years.

Drum Major Karrie Brett from London says her drum and bugle corps is a "powerhouse."

But Visit Rochester President and CEO Don Jeffries says it'll be worthwhile to bring the DCA Championships back here...

"Ten thousand people come to Rochester to watch the competition, is great.  The hotels are full, the downtown restaurants will be busy all weekend, and it's fun," he said.

Jeffries says it's a boost for the economy because usually the Labor Day Weekend is a down time for tourism.

Corps members participating in the Drum Corps Championships will be practicing at various spots in the county over the weekend.

Brett says the Kidsgrove Scouts are "powerhouses."

"And there's a lot of other drum corps over here that we're going to be competing against this weekend that are just as powerful," she said.

Competitions in the 53rd annual event get underway Saturday and continue Sunday at Capelli Sports Stadium in Rochester.

Here's some of the Kidsgrove Scouts in action:

Visit Rochester President and CEO Don Jeffries says this is a big weekend for Rochester