A cheery polyphony of notes will rise from 40 gleaming instruments when Orcas Island Community Band takes the Orcas Center stage this weekend for its annual holiday fete.

“We’ve got some really fun and upbeat and exciting music that we’re going to be playing,” said band president Moana Kutsche. “It helps us get into the holiday spirit and we’re looking forward to sharing that with the community.”

The concert is on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m., a time designed to be family friendly.

The band will launch with gusto into Sleigh Ride, The Christmas Festival and Ukrainian Bell Carol, with circus piece The Big Cage lending a dose of fun-poking levity to the affair. Other songs will include O Holy Night and We Wish you a Merry Christmas featuring sections for woodwind and trumpet. A “Santa meets Souza” medley, which plays to the group’s marching band strengths, will showcase additional embellishments arranged by assistant conductor Pam Wright.

The band’s youngest member, middle-schooler Kahana Pietsch, will boom along in step on his  trombone.

Kutsche said playing with the community band gives students the opportunity to play a different repertoire with a larger, fuller group of experienced musicians.

“It’s a chance to work with adults who are passionate enough about music to devote some of our volunteer time to it,” she said. “We care about them and hope that they will continue with music as a lifelong activity.”

Band member Karen Speck said director Joe Babcock has done a great job of bringing the band along musically.

“All directors have added their own gifts to our musicality, but Joe is probably the best ever,” she said.

Percussionist Randy Jezierski said his favorite part of the lineup is playing woodblocks and snare drum for Midnight Sleighride.

The audience can join in the fun toward the end with a carol sing-a-long, shoring up their strength with cookies, finger food munchies, veggies and dip post-concert.