This Saturday the Buckeye Classic will strike up the band - or 18 of them to be more precise.

The high school marching band competition will take place this weekend at the Tanks Memorial Stadium, and the 18 schools participating will make it the largest Buckeye Classic yet.

Assistant Ironton High band director Jeff Sanders said that although the band enjoys seeing other groups from the region, the heat was on to put on a great show on their home turf.

&#8220It puts a lot of pressure on,” Sanders said. &#8220It's a lot of work to organize it, it's a lot of work to get all the details finished, and there's a competitive sense. We have Coal Grove, South Point, Rock Hill, all the area schools are going to be there. But it's also a good chance for the kids to get to see bands they don't normally get to see.”

Although Ironton won't be judged at the competition, they will present their musical tribute to late musician Ray Charles as an exhibition. They'll also be working the event, which will make for a tiring day after participating at the Green High School band competition first thing in the morning.

&#8220The kids will get there at about 8 o'clock in the morning, and probably won't get home until midnight,” Sanders said. &#8220It makes for a long day.”

That didn't seem to bother IHS drum majors Julie Bellville and Jennifer Thornton.

&#8220It's always something to look forward to,” Bellville said. &#8220Interacting with the bands is usually the best part. In high school there's always those kids who are crazy and weird and unique in their own way Š and they usually end up in band.”

&#8220So many of my friends are in other bands,” Thornton agreed.

IHS band director Bill Rath said that not only will his students enjoy the bevy of local bands, but that the Classic has lots to offer the public as well.

&#8220Every year I get people that say ‘I didn't know what was here, I really enjoyed that,'” Rath said. &#8220I think it's just getting the idea across to people that it's a lot of fun. I think the variety this year is going to make it even better, because they're going to see local bands, they're going to see people that they know, and they're going to see bands they haven't seen before.”

Participating in the event will be the high schools of Symmes Valley, Chesapeake, Wheelersburg, Boyd County, South Point, Vinton County, Portsmouth, Wellston, Westfall, Minford, Gallia Academy, Portsmouth West, Northwest, Green, Rock Hill, Dawson-Bryant, Pickerington Central, and, of course, Ironton's Million Dollar Band.

The music will start at 5 p.m., with an announcement of the winners at 10 p.m.