Band music and precision marching will take center stage in Hartselle on Sat., Oct. 5, as Hartselle High School Band Boosters roll out the red carpet for its 18th annual Southern Hospitality Marching Festival.

Marching bands from 20 high schools in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi will compete in the all-day event.

“We’re expecting a great festival,” said Randall Key, Hartselle High School band director. “Some of the bands come back every year and our own band members and band boosters work hard to keep the festival moving smoothly and to ensure that all of our visitors enjoy themselves.”

Ranging in size from 35 to more than 100 members, the bands will be judged in five classifications and six performance categories: drum major, majorettes, dance line, color guard, percussion and band. Each band in the competition will perform up to a 10-minute show, with the order of performance determined by a drawing.

In addition to the competing bands, two performing bands will be featured. The Hartselle High School Marching Band will perform after the judging has been completed and the University of North Alabama Pride of Dixie Band will take the field at approximately 6 p.m. Awards will be announced and presented at 7 p.m.

A best-in-class award will be given to the top scoring band, percussion, drum major, color guard, majorettes and dance line in each class. The band score will be determined by an average of the three band judges’ scores. In the event of a tie, the average of the three music scores form the band judges will be used to determine the winner.

Also, a challenge cup will be awarded for each class. The winner is determined by the average of the three judges and the percussion judge scores

The Dexter Greenhill Memorial Color Guard Award will also be presented. The award was established to honor the memory of Dexter Greenhaw who served as Hartselle High’s band director from 1994-2004.

Mr. Greenhaw was instrumental in starting the band festival. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and fought a brave battle until his death in 2012. The award named in his honor is presented each year to the festival’s best overall color guard.

The Hartselle Junior High School Band will open the program at 9:45 a.m. with the playing of the national anthem.