Last year's Butler County Band Festival saw Mars' Drum Major Gracie Patrick leading the high school's band. This year's event begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Trumpets, clarinets and drums will ring from Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Butler County Band Festival starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday with doors opening at 6 p.m. at the stadium, 277 Campus Lane, where marching bands will present back-to-back highlights of the marching arts.

Nine bands are scheduled to perform — all of the bands from Butler County school districts plus those from Slippery Rock University and North Catholic High School, which is a new addition this year.

Admission is $5, and nonperishable foods will be collected for the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation's Kids' Weekend Backpack Program.