Marching bands from 12 high schools — including hosts The Mighty Marching Bulldogs — will converge on King’s Fork High School on Saturday for the Fifth Annual Kennel Classic.

Under the direction of Band Director Bernard Bradley, the Bulldogs have enjoyed a successful competition season, coming away from contests at Greensville County, Nansemond River and Highland Springs high schools with a total of four second-place trophies, 13 first-place trophies and two grand championships.

At the State Band Assessment last week, the Bulldogs rated “Superior” for the first time in King’s Fork’s history, according to Bradley, putting them halfway toward the Virginia Honor Band award.

“The kids work hard and I have an awesome staff,” Bradley said. “The parents support us through it all. I’m happy to be creating a program that we all can be proud of.”

While the event begins at 3 p.m., gates will open at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate.

Proceeds directly support King’s Fork’s band program, inching them toward a goal of $50,000 for new uniforms.

As well as the competition between the high school bands, the Kennel Classic will also include exhibitions from Elizabeth City State University’s Marching Sound of Class, Norfolk State University’s Spartan League and Virginia Union University’s Ambassadors of Sound.

High school bands will come from I.C. Norcom, Charles City, Southampton, Hopewell, Varina, Greensville County, Thomas Jefferson, Nansemond River, Highland Springs, North Brunswick (North Carolina) and Frederick Douglass (Maryland) high schools.

For more information, email bernardbradley@spsk12.net or 4theloveofband@gmail.com.