The 35th annual Lake Erie Fanfare gets is scheduled for tonight at Erie's Veterans Memorial Stadium.

More than 1200 performers in nine drum and bugle corps are taking part in the event.

Tonight's headliner, Phantom Regiment spent the day practicing at Iroquois High School.

The 154 member group is made up of performers from more than 20 states ans several foreign countries.

They have been on a nationwide tour all summer long, and they practice for hours each day before every performance.

It is hard work, but the young people love it.

Performer Amanda Petro said, "There is nowhere else I would want to be. This is my favorite activity, my favorite place to be. The shows we play and the music, i would not want to be anywhere else."

The annual budget for the group tops $1.5 million.

Performers pay to play, but much of the money comes from donations and support from boosters.