Bandfest brings international twist to beloved pre-Rose Parade musical celebration

Pasadena’s gray skies couldn’t stop the eclectic energy and international flavor on display Friday, Dec. 30, at Pasadena City College, where thousands united for the Tournament of Roses’ annual celebration of bands.

The 2023 Bandfest, a musical affair hosted by the Tournament of Roses to celebrate the ensembles participating in the annual Rose Parade, marched to a much different tune than last year’s celebration, which was limited in participants and field shows after heavy rain forced some musicians to the sidelines.

The clouds visible throughout the region this week had organizers worried they would again witness another day of relentless showers entering Friday. Instead, fans in attendance during the afternoon were treated to a unique experience featuring musical numbers from around the world.

“This is nothing like last year for you regulars,” joked Master of Ceremonies Jim Hanh. “You can actually see the clothes I’m wearing as opposed to the rain suit so that’s fantastic.”

Just as fantastic were the 10 bands on display during the first of two musically filled afternoons.

The Tournament of Roses Honor Band kickstarted Friday’s affair with a rendition of the National Anthem before playing their signature song, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”

The band has participated in the Rose Parade since 1930, and more than 500 students audition for the available drumline and pageantry positions on an annual basis.

Over 50 different Southern California high school band programs are represented today, according to Hanh, who highlighted the group had perhaps the shortest trip out of all their peers.

Having made the trip from Wisconsin cities like Merrill and Wausau, where snow blankets the ground, performers with the Wisconsin Northwoods Marching Band said they were ecstatic to see palm trees sway in the clear skies as they readied to take the field for one of the day’s more noteworthy performances.

Handpicked by Tournament of Roses President Amy Wainscott, the Northwoods group is a composite band of eight high-schools across North Wisconsin who rehearsed once a month for the 134th Rose Parade.

Most of their practice occurred across the span of six Fourth of July parades last summer when they marched more than 18 miles, Hanh said as the group readied to take a traditional lap around the PCC track.

Wainscott, meanwhile, was able to relax and ride in a 1930s Model-A during the parades, Hanh added, noting the vehicle eventually had to be towed after the engine was soaked in a thunderstorm while traveling between cities.

It wasn’t the only travel hiccup mentioned during the day considering teams from Taiwan, Mexico, and Japan made long journeys to march through Pasadena for the upcoming Rose Parade

The Buhos Marching Band from Veracruz, Mexico dressed their color guard as Monarchs Butterflies who whizzed by bandmates that resembled warriors from an ancient civilization.

Chants of “Viva Mexico” rang while trumpeters on field excitedly let out grito after grito.

Shortly before, the Spartan Legion Marching Band showed Pasadena the power of green and gold – a famous tagline for Norfolk State University, a Historically Black College in Virginia.

The booming drumlines and soulful sways to the sounds of jazz and modern dance soon morphed to a remixed tune of “Jaws,” which was played by the All Gifu Honor Green Band from Japan after Norfolk’s Captain Soul exited the field.

All of the bands in attendance this week for Bandfest are set to accompany the beloved floats and equestrians down Colorado Boulevard on Jan. 2 during the 134th Rose Padade.

First, however, some will take the field at Pasadena City College during the second day of Bandfest on Dec. 31.

The day is divided into two parts, and likely to be just as entertaining as the first, Wainscott told the audience Friday.

The first round of Bandfest day 2 begins at 10 a.m. with the next starting promptly at 2 p.m.

Experts predict Saturday to be a wet day in Pasadena so attendees are advised to bundle up before heading out.

Rain or shine, though, Wainscott said, “we cannot wait to see everybody turning the corner on January 2.”