The North Central Iowa Marching Band Clinic and Competition will be held Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Ten bands will participate in the festival: Fort Dodge Senior High, ADM, Algona, Aplington-Parkersburg, Carroll, Estherville, IKM, Madrid, Saydel and Iowa Central Community College.

The morning and early afternoon will consist of clinics for the bands hosted by the judges for the event. The day will conclude with a field show competition beginning at 4:50 p.m. The Iowa Central Community College band performs at 7:15 p.m. and the Fort Dodge Senior High Marching Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. The award ceremony for the show takes place at 7:45 p.m. The field show is open to the public and admission is $7 per person. There is no charge for children younger than kindergarten.

“This is a unique event in that it includes both a clinic and a contest,” said Al Paulson, Fort Dodge Senior High band director. “Fort Dodge Senior High is happy to host this educational and fun event for the kids.”

The invitational gives bands the chance to brush up their performances prior to the Iowa High School Music Association’s State Marching Band Competition on Oct. 12. According to Paulson, during the festival the bands will get constructive feedback from some of the top marching band instructors in the Midwest as they prepare for the state competition.

“The clinicians at this event provide the bands with valuable feedback they can use to improve their performances prior to the state competition next month,” Paulson said. “It’s a fantastic learning experience leading up to state.”