The seventh annual West Virginia Marching Band Invitational Championship will feature high school bands from around the state on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the University of Charleston Stadium, Laidley Field.

The invitational will include competition and exhibition performances this year. Princeton Middle School will open the event at 10:30 a.m. Greenbrier East High School will perform at 3:30 p.m.

In 2017 the West Virginia State Legislature proclaimed this invitational “The Official State Marching Band Championship of West Virginia.”

“We are pleased to have high school and middle school bands from across the Mountain State attending this year’s invitational,” West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History Curator Randall Reid-Smith said. “This invitational gives us an opportunity to showcase the musical talents of West Virginia students. For the last several years, the department has partnered with VH1 Save The Music Foundation and generous donors around the state to provide musical instruments to middle schools throughout the state. Now, these students are moving into high school where they are helping to grow those marching bands. This invitational is a way for us to highlight that growing interest in music.”

The invitational includes competition judging for music, music effect, general effect, marching, percussion, drum major, color guard, majorettes and twirlers. A Miss Majorette competition is also held at the event.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, seven band directors will be inducted into the Marching Band Hall of Fame.

The invitational will begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day, culminating in an awards program that evening. Admission is $8 for age 12 and older and $7 for 11 and younger.