Free student matinee of the University of Minnesota Marching Band indoor concert, with fall 2026 halftime hits and a visit from the Goldy Gopher mascot.
The University of Minnesota Marching Band is taking its sound indoors at Northrop on Friday, Nov. 13, for a student matinee. The performance runs about an hour, starting at 10:30 AM, and it's free for students and chaperones. There's a 200-seat cap per school, and reservations are currently at capacity with a waitlist.
Known as 'The Pride of Minnesota,' the band is one of the oldest collegiate ensembles in the country. It's more than 320 members strong, and its history goes back to its first halftime show in 1910, when it first formed the 'Block M' that's become its signature. Since then, it's played the Super Bowl halftime show twice, most recently with Justin Timberlake. This indoor concert brings that same energy inside, with the fall 2026 halftime hits and an appearance by the university's mascot, Goldy Gopher. The band is led by Dr. Betsy McCann and Dr. Emmanuel Rodriguez.
The show is part of Northrop's K-12 Student Matinee program, which is funded by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. The program is designed to get students into the theater and pairs each performance with study materials that meet Minnesota Academic Standards. It also includes Q&A sessions with the artists and access to a Sensory Friendly Lounge. The band itself is often described as the most visible heartbeat of the flagship campus and a driving force behind the student experience.
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So, if you're with a school group, it's a free morning of music at Northrop on Friday, Nov. 13, at 10:30 AM. The performance lasts about an hour, and since reservations are at capacity, you'll want to check in on that waitlist.
