The Allen Escadrille has been invited for the third time to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, popularly known as the Rose Bowl Parade. The last time Allen Escadrille was invited was in 2016 and now 10 years later in 2026.
The Rose Bowl Parade began in 1890 when places worldwide were covered in snow. Despite this, flowers bloomed in California, so Charles Frederick started a festival to exhibit California’s blooming flowers. Today, it is a celebration to bring in the new year.
“The Rose Parade travels 5 ½ miles along Colorado Blvd., featuring four main types of entries: floral-covered floats, equestrian units, marching bands, and Tournament Entries. Many of these participants have long-standing ties to the Tournament of Roses, helping to keep the event’s traditions alive,” according to Tournament of Roses.com.
For the Allen Escadrille members, The Rose Bowl Parade is their first time performing in a national environment.
“I’m really excited to see the sheer amount of people and [to] be able to put on an amazing performance doing the thing I really like to do [in an] environment that’s known worldwide,” drum major Colin Roach said. “ Also I think it’s gonna be an amazing time hanging out with the people I love.”
To be invited to the parade again is a significant achievement. Only 20 marching bands worldwide are invited.
“I think it’s important that we got invited because it’s a national stage and it gives us the opportunities to showcase what we do every single day,” Camp said.
As the band and colorguard prepare for the competition you can help Escadrille out by going to the band’s website Allenband.com under the section called Tournament of Roses and there will be information on how the public can donate.
“I see [the invitation] as two things: I see it as a testament of the work we put in throughout the season, like our contributions as a band..[I also see it as] a testament to the hours and hours we spend marching and rehearsing and practicing, and also I see it as an opportunity to show off who we are, what we do and also just to put ourselves out there. To say, ‘Yeah, we’re the biggest band in the land.’” said Roach.
To view the Allen Escadrille at the 2016 Rose Bowl parade, visit this link.