Sunkissed mountaintops and roses, roses, roses everywhere you look.
It’s New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California, and dozens of marching bands, enormous flower-covered floats and talented performers are about to take to the streets in one of the nation’s most beloved parade experiences.
The Tournament of Roses Parade is a New Year’s Day tradition with a 130-year-old legacy of pageantry and competition – and we’re not just talking football! While the iconic Rose Bowl Game, “the Grandaddy of Them All,” kicked off in 1902, the first Tournament of Roses in 1890 featured a parade of flower-lined carriages, jousting, chariot races and other friendly competitions in the California sunshine.
Today, the parade is attended by nearly 800,000 spectators and the televised broadcast is enjoyed by 28 million more – making it a dream performance opportunity for talented marching bands across the country and around the world.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience is absolutely the highlight of the itinerary, but the days before and after a Tournament of Roses appearance are also fantastic and jam-packed with student-favorite attractions and activities. In recent years, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with nearly 20 Tournament of Roses marching bands, designing customized itineraries that weave in the best that Southern California has to offer.
Though applications for the 2026 parade are closed, marching band applications for the 2027 Tournament of Roses Parade are open until May 15, 2025. Accepted bands will be notified in September or October.
As you envision your group’s Tournament of Roses experience, keep these highlights in mind – they’re client-tested, student-approved!
California Dreaming
Winter in Southern California beats a winter day just about anywhere else. Your days in the sunshine could include:
Santa Monica
We’ll whisk you and your students off to Santa Monica for a classic California afternoon, where you’ll dip a toe in the Pacific, explore the Pier’s shops, watch the surfers or just enjoy the view. Dinner on the Pier is the perfect spot to catch an epic sunset and end a perfect West Coast day.
Disneyland
Grab your mouse ears, because today we’re heading to Disneyland! Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a gift-shopper or just a sucker for a Mickey-shaped snack, everyone loves The Happiest Place on Earth. In addition to a full day of rides, snacks and memories, Disneyland offers an optional, festive parade performance.
Hollywood
Get ready for the star treatment! It wouldn’t be a trip to Los Angeles without the complete Hollywood experience, so jump on the bus and let’s follow the stars. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Walk of Fame, Madame Tussaud’s, the Los Angeles Farmers Market and shopping at the Grove are all possibilities for this very LA day – you may even spot a celebrity or two!
Universal Studios Hollywood
Play the day away immersed in your favorite movies with all your favorite friends. All the classics in one place – where will you start? The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Jurassic World? Fast & Furious? In between all the awesome rides, shows, and experiences, you’ll enjoy lunch and dinner in the park.
Your Tournament of Roses Parade Experience
Your performance experience begins a few days prior to the parade, with the Tournament of Roses Bandfest. As you’d imagine, this day is all about the bands!
At Bandfest, all marching bands selected for the Tournament of Roses Parade perform their field show at Pasadena’s Robinson Stadium to a sold-out crowd of raving fans of marching band. Bands love this experience for the additional performance opportunity it provides – and the excitement it builds. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore the larger-than-life floats in the Float Barn, gigantic spectacles of flowers, seeds and greenery.
The months of practices, fundraising and preparation all pay off on New Year’s Day in an experience your students will remember for the rest of their lives. You’re one of the few directors that have the privilege of experiencing this moment. Today will be busy, but don’t forget to take a minute to take it all in and remind yourself that your hard work made this possible.
- You’re up early for breakfast and a quick trip to Pasadena; there’s so much excitement in the air!
- The Parade Staging areas are organized and efficient; your students take their places in formation and move as directed.
- As they turn the corner at Del Mar and Orange Grove, it finally feels real. Your students are stepping onto Colorado Boulevard in the Tournament of Roses Parade!
- In-N-Out Burger, a California classic, is provided for lunch by the Tournament of Roses.
- After their once-in-a-lifetime performance, your students head back to the hotel to freshen up and head to a celebration dinner – you could be celebrating in SoFi Stadium, aboard the Queen Mary or another awesome venue, up to you!
Your Tournament of Roses experience is just that – yours. We take all your ideas, must-haves and bucket list dreams and create an itinerary that’s as unique as you are.
Again – marching band applications for the 2027 Tournament of Roses Parade are open until May 15, 2025, and we at BRT are ready to put our experience to work for you. Our expertise with these renowned events allows you to focus on preparing your band, while we handle the details for you.
If you’d like to learn more about what we offer for groups bound for the Tournament of Roses or other exclusive events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, our Thanksgiving Parade of Bands and more, let’s connect!
