Marching bands in Michigan are uniting on Saturday, Sept. 27 for the 8th annual band invitational and fundraiser. The marching band is hosting the invitational at Buccaneer Stadium from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“It’s an opportunity for marching bands to come together and compete in the respective classifications,” band director Iain Novoselich said.

Admission to the invitational is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors and free for children under the age of five.

Marching bands from Fennville, Whitehall, Montague, Oakridge, Wayland, Allendale, Spring Lake, Muskegon and Hudsonville are competing.

Novoselich jokes people should come because it’s “wicked awesome”.

Sophomore Sylvia Jones, member of the symphonic band, agrees.

“We get a chance to show how good we’ve gotten,” Jones said, “We’ve gotten better since our last performance”

The marching bands are judged by a panel of five judges based on their musical performance, musical affect, visual performance and more. The awards will be announced at 8:50 p.m.

Despite the event’s competitive nature, performers get the chance to connect and have fun.

“We cheer them on and tell them how good they did,” Jones said.