The Uncrewed Triple Challenge (UTC), a new state-sponsored competition, will hold an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the Alpena Harbor Bay View Park Bandshell overlooking Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay. The UTC is a competition across sea, air, and land that is driving innovation in autonomous drone technology.

The ceremony will include remarks by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers and Alpena Mayor Cindy Johnson, a performance by the 126th Army Band of the Michigan National Guard, a military flyover, food trucks, science and technology displays, and a viewing area to watch the competition unfold.

The race will start at 9:30 a.m. The air and land segment of the competition will conclude between 1 and 5:30 p.m. at the Parade Field Finish Line at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center (CGJMTC) located at 4 Howe Rd., Grayling. Members of the community can walk the Parade Field while listening to music provided by local station Q100 and engage with military displays and community-based vendors as they watch the drones reach the finish line. The competition is open to the public and free to attend.