Battery Creek High School wins first battle of the bands at Port Royal Mardi Gras festival

PORT ROYAL, SC (WTOC) — Battery Creek High School’s marching band won the first-ever battle of the bands competition at Port Royal’s third annual Mardi Gras Parade and Festival on Saturday.

The festival featured music, food and traditional Mardi Gras beads as the community gathered for the celebration.

“We are about fun, you know, doing things and we want our community to gather and be a part, so this is our way of bringing everybody back,” said Mary Heyward, a town council member.

Battery Creek’s marching band competed against Whale Branch High School in the musical competition. The two schools are described as local rivals.

“Both bands brought an amazing amount of energy. They were great. They went back and forth on four different songs. It was really tough, you hate to pick a winner but unfortunately you know one of them had to go home with the trophy,” said Mayor Kevin Phillips.

Battery Creek received $1,500 from the town for first place. Whale Branch High School received $1,000 for second place.

“Its official, battery creek is the baddest in the land,” Battery Creek students said.

Residents participated in a parade before the battle of the bands began. They decorated golf carts and drove through town passing out candy and necklaces.

“Watching the parade and giving out candy, necklaces, and watching people happy,” said Aubrey Burden, a festival attendee, describing her favorite part of the day.

The festival was sponsored by the Old Village Association. Phillips said the town looks for opportunities to bring the community together.

“The town’s motto is cool ‘coastal far from ordinary’, so anytime we can have fun you know unordinary events like We try to do that and we think this is one of those,” Phillips said.

Town leaders said the battle of the bands will continue as a tradition at future festivals.