What's Cookin': Rose Parade with SABD

We had a big trip to southern California over winter break, so I wanted to make a couple of quick posts before the spring semester starts (tomorrow!). Here, I'll cover the Rose Parade, and in the next post, our trip (just the two of us) to Disneyland.

Two years ago, we got to know the organization Saluting America's Band Directors (SABD), through Mark's work with Jon at BGSU. This group is run by an amazing woman who set the whole thing up in memory of her husband, who had been a band director. The goal is to honor band directors for their work and to promote the value of music education. Our first big experience with SABD was the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2023. For that parade, Mark got recruited to drive the truck with equipment from BG to NYC, helped out with logistics and rehearsals, and marched in the parade. I basically tagged along and did my own thing, but I also got to know the SABD staff a bit, and they gave me a ticket to watch the parade from the grandstands (which was a lovely surprise!).

Fast forward a couple of years, and the next big event for SABD's Band Directors Marching Band is the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA. Once again, Mark was asked to get involved (providing logistics support), and I was able to go along, too (this time, I also volunteered on the logistics team). We flew out to the LA area on December 26, so we'd be there a couple of days before the marchers arrived to get everything organized. Then, from December 28 on, the days were full with rehearsals and other prep for the parade, plus a few other events leading up to the parade day. For example, Mark got to go to a dinner for the directors of next year's marching bands (because BGSU will perform in the 2027 Rose Parade). There was a group photo at the Rose Bowl and a performance at Bandfest (where all the marching bands play for a crowd at a football stadium, kind of like the band competitions during high school, except there's no judging).

The group also performed during float judging, which happens the day before the parade, because SABD also had a float in the parade! (It isn't typical for marching bands to also have floats; they also got special permission to stop at TV corner and play while the float passed through the band. A unique moment!) At float judging, ours was right next to the Donate Life organ donation float, so Jon invited those families over to stand with the band while they played Amazing Grace in honor of their loved ones. This was a really sweet moment, and an example of one of the values of SABD, "service through music." Turns out...the video went viral! Here's a nice write up from a local paper about the story.

On parade day, January 1, everyone was up early to get where we needed to go. I caught a ride with Jon's wife and family to meet another staff family and get our seats in the grandstands at TV corner; Mark went on the busses with the marchers. Unfortunately, it was a rainy morning. The worst of it happened before sunrise, but there was light-to-steady rain off and on for most of the parade. I had a poncho and rain jacket, but my shoes, socks, and pants were soaked through. Thankfully, it wasn't very cold! The band wore ponchos in the staging area, but not for the parade. So all of them got wet...but the show must go on! I wanted to keep my phone dry, so I only risked a few pics. There was about 15 minutes of dry weather for me, and since it's a long parade, I think the marchers got about an hour of dry weather by the end.

It was a busy week with lots of early mornings, but it was definitely cool to be a part of this event. And all of the folks who run SABD are really kind, welcoming, and generous. I enjoyed being able to contribute more on this trip and getting the behind-the-scenes experience. Oh--we also got to eat some pretty delicious food (along with plenty of boxed lunches :-).

If you want to find out more about SABD and see lots of pics and videos, check out the foundation's FB page. We also had an undergrad student from BGSU with us to post on the FMB social media pages. Here's a link to the KTLA-5 full coverage of the Rose Parade. Coverage of the float starts at 1:35, and you'll see the band a few minutes after that. This video from Fox6 shows the part where the band stops for the float to pass through, starting at 2:31. And Mark's Mom tracked down a clip on FB that shows Mark marching along side the drumline.

Here are some of my pics from the week: