Everything you need to know before you begin your application
Completing the Trills & Thrills festival application takes only a few minutes when you have the right information on hand. This guide walks you through all four steps and tells you exactly what to gather before you sit down to apply.
The application is a four-step online process. Your progress is saved as you move through each step, so you can review and go back if needed. The application is not submitted until you click the final Submit Application button on Step 4.
| Step | What You Do |
|---|---|
| Select Location | Choose your festival location from the available parks listed on the Apply Now page. |
| Step 1 of 4 | Enter school contact information, director contact details, and performing group counts. |
| Step 2 of 4 | Provide the approximate size of each performing group and indicate interest in optional services. |
| Step 3 of 4 | Read and acknowledge the Trills & Thrills General Information (policies & terms). |
| Step 4 of 4 | Review a summary of everything you entered, then submit the application. |
Gather the items below before starting. Having everything ready will let you complete the application without interruption.
Important — Email Address: All correspondence from Trills & Thrills (Director's Festival Packet, invoices, performance information) is sent by email. Double-check your address before submitting. If your school district uses spam filters, contact your System Administrator to whitelist info@trillsandthrills.com. Trills & Thrills is not responsible for information that fails to arrive due to an incorrect address or spam filtering.
Know the number of groups your school will be entering in each category, and the approximate number of student performers in each group. You will also be asked for the names of your Band, Orchestra, and Choral Directors (if applicable).
| Group Type | Number of Groups (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Concert Band(s) | Enter the count |
| Concert Choir(s) | Enter the count |
| Orchestra(s) | Enter the count |
| Show Choir(s) | Enter the count |
| Jazz Band(s) | Enter the count |
| Jazz Choir(s) | Enter the count |
Count each student only once, even if they perform in multiple ensembles.
| Category | Who to Include |
|---|---|
| Students (festival participation + park ticket) |
Students who will perform and spend the day at the park |
| Festival-Only Students (festival participation / no park ticket) |
Students who will perform but do not need a park admission ticket (e.g., have a season pass or will depart right after performing) |
| Directors | All directors attending |
| Chaperones & Non-Performing Students | Adults accompanying the group plus any non-performing students |
On the Apply Now page, festival locations are grouped by region. Each park shows one of three status buttons:
Selecting a location with available space will take you directly to Step 1.
Verify the location shown at the top of the page. If it is not the park you intended, click Go Back to make a different selection.
All fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
The page will show the total number of groups you selected and the deposit amount required ($100 per performing group). Your registration is not confirmed until this deposit is received.
If you need to change the number of groups, click Back to Step 1.
Read the General Information displayed on this page in full. It covers:
Check the box confirming that you have read and acknowledge the General Information, then click Continue.
You cannot proceed to Step 4 without checking this acknowledgement box.
A summary of everything you entered is displayed for your review. Verify that all details are correct — location, date, school information, director contacts, group counts, participant totals, and any optional service requests.
If anything is incorrect, use the Back buttons to return to the appropriate step.
When everything looks right, click Submit Application. Your application is not complete until you click this button.
After submission, a confirmation page will display and a copy of your application will be emailed to the address you provided.
Your application is held as tentative until your deposit is received. No space at the festival is reserved until Trills & Thrills receives the deposit of $100 per performing group.
| Minimum group size | 25 students (smaller groups may be accepted on a space-available basis) |
| Deposit | $100 per performing group — non-refundable; credited to your festival invoice |
| Payment due dates | 60 days and 30 days before festival date |
| Accepted payment methods | ACH transfer, check, or money order (no credit cards) |
| Cancellation > 30 days out | Loss of deposit |
| Cancellation 15–30 days out | Loss of deposit or $250 cancellation fee, whichever is greater |
| Cancellation < 15 days out | No refund |
| Group size changes | Must be received no later than 15 calendar days before the festival |
| Festival-Only student rate | $27.00 per person (performs but does not need park admission); must be reported before final payment and no later than 15 days prior to festival |
| Meal tickets | Available at most locations; must be requested before the final payment due date; cannot be purchased on-site day-of |
| Late additions (< 15 days) | Generally allowed, subject to availability; payment may be required on the day of the festival (cash, check, or money order) |
If you have questions about the application process or your registration, please visit our Contact page or review the Frequently Asked Questions.
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