MISHAWAKA — This weekend brings the final marching band invitational before Indiana State School Music Association contests kick off.

Six Elkhart County high school marching bands will compete in Penn High School’s Carnival of Bands this Saturday.

The invitational contest starts at 2 p.m. at Penn’s Freed Field, 55910 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens, according to Glenn Northern, Penn’s band director.

Twenty-eight bands will perform. As host, Penn will perform but is not eligible for awards or placings.

Invitational contests give bands a chance to perform for an audience, get judges’ feedback and perfect their shows before ISSMA contests, where bands must meet certain marks to move on in competition. The first ISSMA contest of the season is Sept. 29.

Fairfield, Elkhart Memorial, Elkhart Central, Northridge, Goshen and Concord are the Elkhart County schools competing Saturday at Penn.

NorthWood will participate in the Hamilton Southeastern Invitational in Fishers on Saturday. That invitational begins at 1:45 p.m. Tickets there are $8 for adults and $5 for students.