Twenty-nine bands will compete in Saturday’s A-Town Invitational marching band competition.

The event, sponsored by the Andalusia High School Band Boosters, includes bands ranging in size from class 1A-5A.

“This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year,” said Band Director Bennie Shellhouse.

The festival proceeds equate to some 30 percent of the band’s overall budget.

The monies raised go to help with travel expenses and buy instruments and other needs for the band.

Schools competing are Florala, Houston County, Highland Home, Jackson, Brantley, Georgiana, Sweetwater, Excel, Escambia, Cottonwood, Central of Coosa County, Opp, Geneva County, Southern Choctaw, Zion Chapel, Charles Henderson, Flomaton, Headland, Ashford, Straughn, Baker, Elba, Luverne, Calera, TR Miller, Rehobeth, Daleville, Northview, Gulf Shores.

The format for the invitation is that every school has an allotted amount of time to get on the field, perform their halftime routine and get off the field.

The event will begin at 11:45 a.m., when Florala High School takes the field.

Other local schools’ times are as follows:

• Opp High School, at 3 p.m.,
• Straughn High School at 5:30 p.m.

Andalusia will perform an exhibition at 9:15 p.m., and the awards ceremony will be at 9:30 p.m.