The 33rd annual Little Big Horn marching band competition is only a week away, and event organizers are hoping the weather will cooperate, as it has every year so far.

Opp High School Band Booster President David Calhoun said the Little Big Horn event has never had to be canceled or postponed.

“We have the longest consecutive running band contest in the state of Alabama,” Calhoun said. “During the 33 years we’ve put this on, it has never rained one out. That’s not to say it won’t do it this year, I know, but our band director likes to brag about that.”

LBH is scheduled to take place Sat., Oct. 19, at Channell-Lee Stadium in Opp. Calhoun said gates will open at noon, and the first band will take the field around 2 p.m.

“That gives them time to practice and set up,” Calhoun said.

Admission for Little Big Horn is $6, with children 5 and under admitted for free.

Calhoun said each person in attendance will receive a hand stamp, allowing them to come and go from the event throughout the day.

Calhoun said this year’s competition will feature 12-15 bands from across the state competing for an array of awards.

“We will name the best in class in all different areas of the band,” Calhoun said. “The drum major; the dance lines; the horn section. We usually give out between $5,000 and $10,000 worth of trophies.”

Calhoun said concessions will also be available.

“We will have hot dogs, hamburgers, pizzas and all kinds of concessions available there at the stadium,” he said.

Calhoun said Little Big Horn is typically well attended, and serves as a huge financial boost for the Opp High School band.

“We’re expecting a real good turnout,” he said. “And everything that is raised from Little Big Horn goes 100 percent back into the band. None of the band boosters get paid. We are strictly volunteers.”

Calhoun said much of the funds raised go toward purchasing new instruments, which he added can be pricy.

“We use it to buy new uniforms, new horns – things like that,” he said. “We just had to buy a new tuba, which was $25,000.”