This year marked the 26th Annual Joseph P. Grasso Festival for the Newtown High School’s Marching Band & Guard’s home show on October 15, and it did not disappoint.

In fact, this year drew special visitors from Tennessee: author and illustrator Brad Montague, his wife and illustrator Kristi Montague, and their children.

As shared by NHS Band Parent Corp President Dianna Pategas ahead of the visit, the band’s fall show is based on The Circles All Around Us, written by Brad Montague and illustrated by him and Kristi Montague.

“Something very special is happening at Newtown High School,” Pategas wrote in an e-mail ahead of the event.

A description for The Circles All Around Us reads, “This is the story of a circle. When we’re first born, our circle is very small, but as we grow and build relationships, our circle keeps getting bigger and bigger to include family, friends, neighbors, community, and beyond. Brad Montague originally created Circles as an Instagram video adorably narrated by his kids, and now this picture book adaptation is the perfect way to start a conversation about how to expand our worlds with kindness and inclusivity — even if it seems scary or uncomfortable. This book makes an ideal new-baby, first-day-of-school, or graduation gift, or any milestone that celebrates someone’s world getting bigger.”

NHS Director of Bands Aaron Ovsiew, the full band, band parents, and volunteers, were all gathered at NHS’s Blue & Gold stadium earlier in the day when the Montagues arrived.

Before the NHS Marching Band & Guard members rehearsed for the day, Brad Montague spoke with the group.

Brad Montague said there is a whole world and challenges to face, but there are also “circles all around us, everywhere we go.”

He described a quote and concept that he thinks about around the importance of everyone sweeping their own front door and yard to support cleaning the whole world.

“There’s a difference you can make and a love you can show right there, just start right there,” Brad Montague said. “What’s really cool about that is the more you take care of the circle around you, the more it expands and grows. Then it finds its way outside of this little town in Tennessee to Connecticut, to you. Then the circles around you just grow and grow.”

Brad Montague said it gives him hope that the NHS Marching Band & Guard members have been sharing the story and “bringing it to life with music ... It is going to grow and grow from there.”

“You are filling the world with circles of goodness,” Brad Montague said.

The Montagues also presented special pins to the band members and Ovsiew.

Then the Marching Nighthawks took to the field to rehearse for the evening’s performance.

As is typical for the home show, the NHS Marching Band & Guard performed but did not take part in the evening’s competition. Ten area marching bands did take part in the competition, and NHS’s performance capped the evening.

Graduating NHS Marching Band & Guard seniors Mason Miller, Tyler Cocchiola, Ben Belmuth, Sarina Christenson, Anna White, Audrey Nichols, and Cassie Fossom were also honored at the event.

While visiting, the Montagues both signed a copy of The Circles All Around Us for the NHS Marching Band & Guard. The message reads, “To one of the greatest bands in the world! You create a better world of wider circles!”

For more information about the Montagues and their books see their website at montagueworkshop.com/hello.

More information about the NHS Marching Band & Guard, including dates for upcoming competitions, is available on its website newtownbandandguard.weebly.com.

Education Editor Eliza Van can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.