Well, it's that time of year again -- time for me to remind you about "Symphony at the Celebration," the Nashville Symphony's annual concert in Shelbyville, which will take place Tuesday at Calsonic Arena.

Last year's concert featured the Community High School band, and was a great success. This year's concert will feature the band from my alma mater, Cascade High School, and will therefore be even better. (I could be biased, however.)

Next year, if all goes according to plan, we will have the Central band as guest artists. We saved Central for last because they've been the guest artists once before, some years back, during the period when Karen Lynn Deal was with the symphony. Back then, they were the only public high school in the county that had a band program.

The program will include everything from Brahms to the Beatles, from Gershwin to John Phillip Sousa.

This concert is intended to be casual, and fun, and family friendly. You don't have to know anything about classical music to enjoy it (and you'll be surprised at how much of the music you recognize from one place or another). You do not have to wear a tie. Let me repeat that: you do not have to wear a tie. I certainly won't.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. with a pre-concert performance by the always-hot Motlow College Jazz ensemble, under the direction of Tom Breece. There will also be an art show on the arena concourse, with everything from childrens' crayon drawings to the work of professional artists.

During this pre-concert hour, you're encouraged to bring a picnic supper, or purchase concessions there in the arena.

The symphony, under the baton of Assistant Conductor Kelly Corcoran, takes the stage at 7 p.m., with the national anthem and the presentation of colors by local National Guard members. The symphony will perform for a while, then the Cascade band will do two numbers just before intermission.

During intermission, the Motlow jazz band will play again.

After intermission, the symphony will return, and then later the concert will conclude with a grand finale featuring the symphony and the Cascade band playing together, on the "1812 Overture" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

Extensive clinical research reveals that it's impossible to keep from smiling and clapping while listening to a live performance of "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

Best of all, this evening of guilt-free fun will cost you considerably less than family night at the movies. Adult general admission is $5, with all ticket proceeds going to Bedford County Arts Council, and children and students are admitted free of charge.

General admission tickets are available now at all Regions Bank locations in Shelbyville and Tullahoma. Box seats ($10 each in groups of 6 or 8) are available at the Elm Street branch of Regions Bank. You can find out more about the concert at lakeneuron.com/symphony.

As a member of the steering committee for this annual concert, I want to thank Regions Bank, which sponsors the symphony's community concert series; Economy Pen & Pencil, a strong supporter of the local concert; and our hosts at the Celebrtion for making this musical treat possible. It is always a high point of my year, and I am looking very much forward to being there and seeing you there.

John I. Carney is city editor of the Times-Gazette and covers county government and other topics. His home page is lakeneuron.com.