Due to expected inclement weather tomorrow night, Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard has made the decision, with US Bands, to start their home show early.

Gates for The 25th Annual Joseph P. Grasso Festival will open on Saturday, October 16, at noon. Opening ceremony will begin at 12:50, and the competition will begin at 1 pm.

Newtown will perform at 3:15 pm, followed by senior recognition and awards.

The Grasso Festival is the annual home show for the award-winning high school marching band and guard. It hosts competitive performances by visiting schools. The NHS Nighthawks offer a noncompetitive performance of their show for their home audience. This year’s show is called “Everest.”

Admission is $12 for adults, $7 students and senior citizens, and free for children age 5 and under.

The festival is named for retired Newtown High School music educator Joseph Grasso. While teaching music in the Newtown Public Schools, he created the high school band program in the late 1960s and later became the director of music for the Newtown school system.

This year's festival will include a moment of silence to honor its namesake, who died last weekend.

The schedule for Saturday, according to US Bands, includes competitive performances by The Gilbert School of Winsted at 1 pm; Robert E. Fitch High School of Groton, 1:15 pm; Bethel High School, 1:30 pm; and Westhill High School, 1:45 pm.

Following a 30-minute intermission, the event will continue with New Milford High School taking the field at 2:30; Port Chester (NY) High School, 2:45; and Trumbull High School, 3 pm. NHS closes the field with its performance at 3:15,