The 17th annual Heart of America Marching Festival will bring 14 high school bands to Kansas University’s Memorial Stadium today. Bands from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska will compete in a preliminary round beginning at 1 p.m., then class championship exhibitions and the finals begin at 6:30 p.m.

The KU Marching Jayhawks will perform at 9:15 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony.

The high school bands will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges.

The public entrance for the event will be at the northwest corner of Memorial Stadium near 11th and Mississippi streets. Parking will be available in the parking lots west of the stadium and the Mississippi Street Parking Facility. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens and free for preschool students.