Heaping plates of fresh spaghetti and the powerful sounds from Dowagiac’s student bands will come together to form a perfect melody later this month.

The Dowagiac Band Boosters will host its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Dowagiac Middle School. Tickets cost $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors, and can be purchased at the door the day of the event or in advance from any band student.

In addition to supper — prepared by band parents inside the middle school cafeteria kitchen — the event will feature live performances by the district’s sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade bands and the high school concert and jazz bands. Students who will be performing in the upcoming solo and ensemble event will also play during the evening.

The dinner — established by the boosters 16 years ago — is the primary fundraiser for the organization, which supports the middle and high school bands in a variety of functions. Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward purchasing new instruments and equipment, said Band Boosters President Nancy True.

“We currently have two tubas for the high school band,” True said. “However, we have a couple eighth-grade tuba players who are moving up next year, and we do not have enough instruments for them.”

New tubas cost between $6,000 to $8,000 a piece, True said. The boosters are hoping to raise around $7,000 through this year’s dinner, enough for about one instrument, she said.

The boosters are also looking to purchase new drumheads, sticks and mallets for the bands’ percussion players, True said.

The spaghetti dinner typically draws large crowds, with around 600 people coming through the middle school for the event last year, the president said.

“It is mostly other band parents who attend, although we have some alumni who come out to eat and watch the kids perform as well,” True said.

The band members always put on a good show for audiences, she added. Some even offer to come in early and help the boosters set up, True said.

“The students have worked really hard to get to where they are now,” she said. “They sound wonderful. They are an amazing group of kids.”

People with questions about the event may contact band director Justin Makarewicz, at jmakarewicz@dowagiacschools.org or at (269) 782-4423.