BUTLER TWP - The Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band is planning for its eighth major event in eight years - a performance in this year's Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Ariz.

"Next to the Rose Bowl, this is probably the second largest event we've been in," band director Andrew Yaracs said.

Eighteen high school bands and two college bands will perform at this year's event on New Year's Eve following the Fiesta Bowl game.

Yaracs said the band was invited to attend the event earlier this year and already has started fund raising to pay for it.

It is expected to cost $1,100 per student for the trip, Yaracs said.

The band plans at least 22 fund-raising activities, including spaghetti dinners, pepperoni roll sales and fruit and candy sales.

Yaracs said several restaurants also have offered to provide the band with 10 percent of proceeds from their sales during certain days and times.

There will not be a huge drive in the community for this event the way there was for the Rose Bowl, Yaracs said.

"We realize the economy isn't so great right now, so we won't be soliciting the corporate community the way we did before," he said. "We're trying to raise funds through traditional means."

Anyone who would like information about helping the band pay for its trip can call Yaracs at 724-287-8721.

For information on the Fiesta Bowl, visit www.fiestabands.com.