(Courtesy photo)

NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee City Band will hold a concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Negaunee Outdoor Performing Arts Center.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m, and the Kid’s Petting Zoo will begin around 7 p.m. under the watchful eye of Zookeeper Kathy Houghton, pictured above wearing the traditional NCB dress blue marching uniform.

During the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner,” children should remain respectfully silent. Director Lucas Wickstrom will invite them to play along for the opening “Chimes of Liberty” march after which the “Zoo instruments” will be put into boxes until the concert concludes, when children may once again make music.

Julia and Alice, also pictured, are being very careful with the vintage marching glockenspiel and vintage bass drum with its attached cymbal. NCB President Lori Perry will present both instruments to the Negaunee Historical Society President Esko Alasimi for the Museum’s Music Room. The museum, located at 303 E. Main St. in Negaunee, boasts an impressive collection of Negaunee City Band memorabilia in its third floor music room.

In 1898, some of the many existing brass bands added reeds and became the Negaunee City Concert Band. It is among the oldest continuous band in Michigan. NCB musician Brian Veale will play a sousaphone played by his grandfather in the Negaunee City Band in the early 1900s.

The NCB practices every Monday evening, and welcomes new musicians.