Festivities, including games for children, will get under way at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by the band concert at 7 p.m. — all at Tonganoxie’s VFW Park.

“We’re gong to have an Uncle Sam look-alike contest,” said Carolyn Day of the VIP Booster Club, which supports the music departments at Tonganoxie high and junior high schools. “We’re going to have a cake walk, a fish pond and face painting, and some other games. And we’ll be serving ice cream again this year — and water.”

Proceeds will be used to benefit the music departments.

This year’s concert will follow a patriotic theme, although the band will play other types of music, according to director Charles VanMiddlesworth II, better known as Mr. Van.

“There will be more patriotic music this year,” he said. “It’s going to be really exciting.”

The 50 members of the band have been practicing Tuesday nights during June.

“Last year, we had 25 or 26 people in the band, so we’ve doubled the band,” VanMiddlesworth said.

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.