Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps visited Newtown High School's Blue & Gold Stadium on Friday, August 4, for a rehearsal day that included a series of practice runs that the public was invited to stop by and watch for free, from 9 am to 9 pm. The professional marching band is based out of Denver, Colo., and travels the country during the summertime, performing for crowds of thousands.

The 200-member group of performers and crew is led by tour director and Newtown resident Ricky Grasso, who coordinated the corps' stop in town to show the local community the Blue Knights' performance routine.

Students from Newtown's band program gathered together a few days before the Blue Knights' arrival and prepared welcome signs that included all the individual names of the Blue Knights members, to show their appreciation for the group. The signs were posted on the school's gymnasium doors for all to see.

Once the Blue Knights' tour wraps up this month, Mr Grasso will step in to his new position as Newtown High School's visual caption head for the band program.