Expect lots of visitors this weekend as the Okmulgee Invitational band competition is scheduled at historic Harmon Field on Saturday.

Schools from around the state and one from Kansas will bring their best and brightest to perform during the day-long event. Okmulgee High School band director Rusty Helms and his assistants and many volunteers are working to ensure a fun, exciting event.

Since Okmulgee is the host for the event, they will not be competing, but will put on an exhibition at 3:30 p.m.

For those attending, the cost is $5 for preliminary competition or $5 for finals, or an all-day pass can be purchased for $8. The gates will open at 8 a.m. and the first performance is at 8:45 a.m.

Schools and their time for performing are: 8:45 a.m. Atoka; 9 a.m. Quinton; 9:15 a.m. Wilburton; 9:30 a.m. Luther; 9:45 a.m. Okemah; 10 a.m. Holdenville; 10:15 a.m. Chandler; 10:30 a.m. Antlers; 10:45 a.m. Eufaula; 11 a.m. Beggs; 11:15 a.m. Tah. Seq.; Lunch Break; 12:30 p.m. Stilwell; 12:45 a.m. Jay; 1 p.m. Stigler; 1:15 p.m. Checotah; Break; 1:45 p.m. Hilldale; 2 p.m. Wagoner; Break; 2:45 p.m. Poteau; 3 p.m. Glenpool; 3:15 p.m. Eisenhower and 3:30 p.m. Showpiece of Okmulgee Exhibition.

Preliminary awards will be presented at 4 p.m. Finalists will then begin their performances at 6:30 p.m. with the last band performing at 9:15 p.m.

The awards presentation will be at 9:45 p.m. The Showpiece has a busy schedule ahead of them in the weeks to come. On Saturday, Oct. 6, the band will be competing in the Glenpool Invitational.

Tuesday, Oct. 9, they travel to Skiatook, then on Saturday, compete in the Beggs Invitational.