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Bowl Games, Parades and Events

The world will be your stage when you take part in a bowl game, parade or special performance event.

Bowl Games

Audiences of thousands will watch as you wow the crowds with spirit and skill! Bands (or partial ensembles) can participate in these exciting venues. Count on Kaleidoscope Adventures to help you choose the event that fits your needs. Start planning today!

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Outback Bowl marching band

Each year, young performers from across the nation converge at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida for the Coca-Cola Halftime Show during the Outback Bowl.  High school bands can participate in the Outback Bowl Music Festival, a four-day event packed with performances, competitions and clinics with renowned professionals.  The marching band performance in the Outback Bowl Parade travels through historic Ybor City and an awards ceremony and New Year’s celebration at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay.

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Military Bowl

Get ready for a spirited display of pep and patriotism as the Budweiser Clydesdales lead the Military Bowl Parade.  Medal of Honor recipients, team bands and mascots, AAYFA championship teams, high school marching bands and more will energize the crowd during this pre-game trek to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD.

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Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

Be among the first to perform for nearly 75,000 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl participants.  Take part in a concert band competition, field show competition (both optional) and marching in the National Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Parade in downtown Atlanta on New Year’s Day.  Following the parade, you’ll enjoy the excitement of the bowl game with an exhilarating pre-game performance!

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Junior Orange Bowl Parade

Thousands of young people will take part in this South Florida tradition!  For more than 70 years, the Junior Orange Bowl Parade has taken over the streets of Downtown Coral Gables with a dazzling arrangement of marching bands, floats, community groups and more.  Bands must have at least 30 members to participate and are encouraged to be costumed according to the theme.

 

Check out our best performance tips for music students

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Fiesta Bowl Parade

Showcase your marching band as part of the pageantry of the Fiesta Bowl Parade.  Spectacular floats, giant, colorful balloons, equestrian units, local celebrities and charitable groups wind through a 2-mile route through central Phoenix prior to the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day. Fill out your application for the Fiesta Bowl Parade today!

Parades

These parades can range from marching through Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day to being covered in flowers and lei’s as you march down a street in Hawaii.

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6abc/Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia thumbnail image

6abc/Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia

Nearly 100 years old, the 6abc Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Parade is the oldest in the country.  Festive floats and giant balloons are the hallmarks of this iconic parade in Philadelphia, along with the talented marching bands that punctuate the festivities.  You can be a part of the thrills and excitement too! There are 19 spots for bands of 90 or more! If you’re looking for an application for the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade, look no further.

 

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Branson Veterans Parade

Veterans Day Parade always takes place at 11:00am on November 11th. This parade will wind through downtown Branson and has excellent attendance. Open to all types of groups: dance, marching bands, ROTC, etc.

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Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in NYC

Mark the start of the holiday season with the world’s largest parade!  The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is the quintessential kick-off for holiday fun and your marching band.  Bands of all shapes and sizes are invited to apply and entertain more than 3 million live spectators and 50 million television viewers.  Applications must be submitted by April 1st for participation in the following year’s parade.

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Rose Parade Presented by Honda

Be a part of an iconic New Year’s Day tradition when you march in the Rose Parade.  The parade route is 5 ½ miles down Colorado Blvd. and features magnificent floral-decorated floats, equestrian units, bands and more.  Bands of any size are selected based on a variety of criteria, including musicianship, marching ability, uniqueness, entertainment value or special interest.  Bands with the ability to perform show maneuvers while marching forward are encouraged to apply. Your marching band and trip planner will get you to the Rose Parade!

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Nashville Christmas Parade

The Nashville Christmas parade has been a staple of Middle Tennessee’s holiday season since 1927.  It includes celebrity performances, elaborate floats, balloons and mass performing groups.  Marching bands can get in on the fun and festivities as the parade route travels along the “Musical Mile” with hundreds of thousands of spectators.  It’s an exceptional way to highlight your talented performers while having an amazing time in Music City, U.S.A.

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Hollywood Christmas Parade

Hosted by Hollywood’s finest, this festive holiday parade is held the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Bands of all types are welcome to apply.  They are selected based on a variety of criteria, including musicianship, marching ability, uniqueness and entertainment value. In addition, bands must have the ability to perform field show-type maneuvers while continuing to march.  Hurry!  The deadline for the Hollywood Christmas Parade application is February 1st of the parade year!

St. Patrick’s Day Parades (NYC and others worldwide) thumbnail image

St. Patrick’s Day Parades (NYC and others worldwide)

If you’re “lucky,” your marching band can take part in the world’s biggest and oldest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City!  Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue comes to life with the sound of bagpipes, trumpets and marching bands, all decked out in Irish green!  All parade participants are on foot- no cars, floats or balloons.  Marching bands set the pace and cadence for the route, which is why they are such an integral part of this event.  Band sizes range from 60 to more than 300 and applications are processed on a rolling basis.

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Music in the Mountains Spring Parade

The Music in the Mountains Spring Parade showcases the rich musical heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains.  High school marching bands, dance groups, choral groups, and baton twirlers from  Ohio, Virginia, Georgia and more help set the tone for a spring extravaganza in the mountains.

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National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

Kick off spring by marching in the magnificent parade in Washington, D.C.  Breathtaking blossoms provide the backdrop for a complex mix of entertainment, including marching bands from around the globe.  Selected bands represent the best that local, regional, and national music programs have to offer.  There are no age requirements, but bands must have 100+ students to be considered for participation. Cherry Blossom Festival Marching Band.

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Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® Parade

Early May is ushered in with pink, green and the spirited sounds of marching bands!  Take part in the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® Parade or any number of other band events in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA. shenandoah apple blossom festival marching band

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Parade of Nations

The Norfolk NATO Festival in Norfolk, VA is home to the Parade of Nations each April.  Over 100 parade units with local and visiting high school bands, U.S. and International Military bands, and colorful floats which represent each of the 29 NATO Member Nations! Parade of Nations Norfolk application.

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New York City Veterans Day Parade

Honor and support our veterans at the New York City Veterans Day Parade, the largest event of its kind in the nation.  It’s an extraordinary performance opportunity marked with high-stepping energy and pride for all involved.  Participants will march along Fifth Avenue, past such famous landmarks as the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, cheered by an enthusiastic crowd of thousands. Grab your spot in the heart of the action and salute our American heroes! Veterans Day Parade Marching Band NYC

Annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade thumbnail image

Annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade

Perform in paradise as part of a celebration more than 100 years in the making.  Downtown Honolulu, HI hosts the Annual King Kamehameha Floral Parade each June.  It’s a colorful procession filled with flowers, floats and fabulous music! kamehameha marching band

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