The 17th Annual Citywide Pep Rally will take place at the Outlets at Vicksburg from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

“It’s an opportunity to get all of the schools together, and that’s something that doesn’t happen too often, or at all,” Manivanh Chanprasith, marketing and events manager, said.

The Warren Central Big Blue Band and the Pride of Vicksburg High School Band will perform songs in between school cheer and dance routines. Fifteen cheer and dance teams from area junior high and high schools will entertain the crowd with their school spirit. Chanprasith said in all, over 300 students perform.

“It’s just a great event that the kids get into,” Chanprasith said. “The cheerleading squads and the football players, they all want to showcase what they’ve been practicing or what’s to come for the school year, and it gives the community a glimpse into what the students are doing as well.”

Warren County and Vicksburg High School’s JROTC and Color Guard will present the colors for the pledge of allegiance.

The pep rally is free and will start at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot. Bleacher seating will be available, but lawn chairs are welcomed.

The Warren Central Student Council will be selling watermelon, and the Vicksburg High Gator Boosters will have T-shirts for sale. The Salvation Army and the Outlets at Vicksburg will provide water.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace, Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong and other city and county elected officials will be on hand to make opening remarks. Superintendent Chad Shealy will introduce the Vicksburg, Warren Central, St. Aloysius and Porters Chapel high school principals. Chris Burks, host of the KHITS 104.5 morning show, will emcee the event.

The Mississippi Community Education Center and other organizations will be on-hand to get the word out about what they are doing in the community.

Some of the outlet stores will hold their own promotional discounts and giveaways Saturday morning. Chanprasith said some stores would continue their back-to-school sales from last weekend.

“It’s a good time to buy school uniforms and back to school clothing,” Chanprasith said.