Mineola, Quitman and Winnsboro will be among the 27 Class 3A high school marching bands competing at the Area C championship on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches.

All three were awarded ones from the three judges at the region marching contest Tuesday, Oct. 17 in Mt. Pleasant to earn the marching portion of the band sweepstakes award and advance to the area round.

At area, bands will be competing for one of five slots in the state marching championship Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Mineola is the three-time defending state champion.

At the area and state contests, there will be a preliminary and a final round.

The number of bands scoring ones at region contests determines the number of slots available for the state contest.

The first band will march at 11:45 a.m. on the 28th.

Winnsboro marches at 12:30 p.m., Mineola at 1:30 and Quitman at 3:45.

The announcement of the finalist bands will be made following an exhibition at 4:30 p.m. by the  SFA Lumberjack Band.

Performances in the finals begin at 6:30 p.m. with the last band at 9 p.m.

Bands will compete at five area contests around the state.