About Us
The Show
This is the 33rd year of the Kiwanis Thunder of Drums competition. All competing corps are championship finalists or semi-finalists with Drum Corps International (DCI) or Drum Corps Associates (DCA) in 2023.
Fun Facts
The 2025 competition in Mankato will be the 33rd Thunder of Drums show presented by the Mankato Kiwanis Club.
Net proceeds from the show support Kiwanis youth projects including Kiwanis Camp Patterson on the shores of Lake Washington, which annually hosts more than 2,500 children during the camping season. Proceeds also support the '77 Lancers Marching Band.
Over 63,000 visitors have attended the Thunder of Drums during its
33-year run.
Housing for the corps is provided by area schools.
2025 Scholarship Winners!
We are proud to announce the 2025 winners of the Kiwanis Thunder of Drums/Music Mart Drum Corps Scholarship, Colin Besel, and Elie Wendinger! Both are veterans of the Mankato ’77 Lancers Marching Band, and both are marching this summer with the Madison Scouts! Both will be recognized in this year's show program.
Congratulations to Colin and Elie!
KIWANIS THUNDER OF DRUMS/MUSIC MART DRUM CORPS SCHOLARSHIP
The annual Kiwanis Thunder of Drums/Music Mart Drum Corps Scholarship is available to band or color guard members to help pay the cost of tuition to participate in a Drum Corps International World Class Corps. Up to four scholarships at $250 per recipient will be awarded annually to qualifying students from high schools and colleges in the Mankato area. The application extension allows potential applicants to fully complete their World Class Corps, audition process.
To be eligible, the students must be a member of a high school or college band ensemble in good standing; have received a contract offer from a Drum Corps International World Class Corps; and have completed and submitted the scholarship application by May 1st. Scholarship winners will be announced by June 1st.
Questions or inquiries can be directed to the Kiwanis Thunder of Drums at TODtickets@gmail.com
Scholarship applications are available via the Kiwanis Thunder of Drums website:
www.thunderofdrums.org or at The Mankato Music Mart, 1014 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN.
Thunder of Drums Committee
Doug Faust, Chair
Howard Haugh, Past Chair
Gail Connelly
Fuzzy Fasnacht
Ben Hoffman
John Kind
Mike Lagerquist
Rene Maes
Joe Meidl
Cory Merrill
Dan Osdoba
Liz Paul
Cindy Shirk
Michael Thursby
Sharon Taylor
Denny Wahlstrom
All proceeds go to support Kiwanis youth projects and the Mankato 77 Lancers
The Kiwanis Thunder of Drums is presented for the enjoyment of our community. Show guidelines may be modified as a result of guidance by Minnesota State University, or Drum Corps International.