The Warriors of the Nansemond River High School marching band are raising money to head to the Big Easy for a New Year’s Day performance in one of football’s biggest venues.

The band received an invitation earlier this year to participate in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, an annual American college football bowl game held at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. This opportunity will be part of a five-day program from Dec. 29 to Jan. 2, according to worldstrides.com.

These five days will include playing to win in the Battle of the Bands field show competition, marching in the official Sugar Bowl Parade and performing in the halftime show with members of other bands from across the nation.

“It’s the experience of a lifetime, really, for them to be able to do events like this,” NRHS band director Edward Woodis said in a phone interview Wednesday.

This fall marks the 18th year Woodis has been part of the NRHS band program, and if the band reaches its fundraising goal in time, it will be his first time taking his students to the coveted Sugar Bowl.

“It’s a privilege to be invited. We’ve been invited at least once before, but we just weren’t prepared to do it at that point,” Woodis said. “When you get those types of invitations, you don’t turn them down. Otherwise you may not get invited anymore.”

The fundraising goal for Woodis and his 83 marching band members is $128,000 by Nov. 30, and as of Tuesday they’ve raised nearly $20,000. They’ve been fundraising since August and will continue with food sales, pizza dinners and other efforts throughout the semester, Woodis said.

“We’re just trying to do whatever we can,” he said.

Donors can support the band with food purchases at the school or online with a link on the school’s website, nrhs.spsk12.net. They can also support the band at the Peanut Fest Parade that will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 29 in downtown Suffolk.

Woodis and the band spent roughly a month jumping between rain and hot, summer humidity as they practiced during band camp at NRHS. Woodis said the practices from July 23 to Aug. 24 went well and that he expects them to uphold the outstanding precedent that has been set by years of excellence.

“Nansemond River has always been a great band with history and a legacy. ‘Excellence is the standard, not the goal,’ that’s the band motto,” he said.

He’s traveled with band students to more than a few venues nationwide over the years, such as the Macy’s Holiday Parade and three visits to the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. He and the students hope to reach that next level at the end of the year.

“This is just another step towards the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Bowl, but we’re getting there,” he said.

Visit nrhs.spsk12.net or worldstrides.com for more information.