The 51st Band Day will step off with a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday at Academy and Chatham streets and end at Walnut Street and Cary High. Vanna Fox of Mix 101.5 FM will be the master of ceremonies.

This year the Cary Band Day Committee selected Dr. Ned Gardner of Apex as the parade grand marshal. Gardner is set to retire on Sunday after 15 years as band director at East Cary Middle.

A former professional classical trumpeter, Gardner is credited with helping current and former Cary High band students hone their musical skills.

The pre-show festivities will be followed by competitive performances by 31 marching bands from across North Carolina at Cary High's Cooper Field.

Field competitions will begin at noon. The Cary High marching band will perform its show, "American Revolution," at 5:30 and 10:15 p.m. The marching band at Western Carolina University will also perform at 5:45 and 10:30 p.m.

Stan Hill, a member of the Cary Band Day Committee, said organizers are looking forward to this year's competition.

He said there's a reason Cary Band Day -- the longest-running event of its kind in the Southeast -- is so successful.

"The tradition of Cary High is to have an outstanding band program," Hill said. "The band directors the school has looked for and hired and the programs put in place have sought to maintain that tradition of excellence."