There’s nothing quite like the sound of a hometown parade making its way down Main Street—and when the Franklin High School (FHS) Band steps off, the whole town feels it. Against the backdrop of picturesque downtown Franklin, the band makes its way down the heartbeat of the city. Crowds line the sidewalks, waving, cheering and snapping photos as the band passes. Parents and grandparents proudly look for their student in uniform, while young kids look on wide-eyed as they imagine the day they too will proudly wear that uniform.

Now imagine this isn’t downtown Franklin, but rather it’s Pasadena California. Because that will be the scene for the Franklin High School Band this coming January as they proudly march in the world-renowned Tournament of Roses Parade. The Franklin Band was selected as the Bands of America Grand National Championships selected band by Bands of America and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Music. It is this honor that earned the band a coveted invitation to the 2026 Rose Parade. Their selection is not just a stroke of luck—it’s the result of years of commitment to excellence. The band’s consistent success as a Bands of America Grand Nationals Semi-Finalist since 2008, combined with its track record as a two-time Bands of America Regional Champion and four-time class national runner-up made them a standout candidate for this honor. It is a testament to the hard work, dedication and remarkable excellence of the FHS Band program. 

Director Michael Holland recalls the moment they received the news while participating in the Bands of American Grand Nationals Competition. “It is an extraordinary honor to be selected to perform in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade,” Michael says. “And to be told there at Grand Nationals made it even more special.”

This will be Franklin High School Band’s second appearance in the Rose Parade, exactly thirty years after its first appearance in 1996—creating incredible connection between generations. Several FHS staff members, former band parents and longtime community supporters who were part of that experience in 1996 will now watch a new generation of FHS band members experience a similar journey. One parent who marched with the band in its 1996 appearance will now see their own two children carry on the tradition thirty years late.

The preparation required for a performance of this magnitude reaches a new level even for the award-winning band. With a parade route measuring five-and-a-half miles, the physical demands to march that distance, while maintaining formations and playing at performance level throughout requires a higher level of preparation than even this band is used to. The band’s leaders have developed specialized training sessions and have extended the preparation timeline to ensure the students are ready for this unique challenge that will combine the precision performance the band has developed and achieved through years with the endurance needed for a national-level parade performance.

While the final themes and musical selections have not been made, the band is excited to showcase music that represents The Franklin Band’s tradition of excellence while creating something memorable for this milestone experience. The program promises to honor both the band’s rich history which dates back to the band’s inception to 1937 while celebrating this new milestone. The band’s goal is to present a performance that will make the Franklin community proud while also delivering the top-notch performance that Rose Parade audiences expect.

For these students, this will be a New Year’s Day that they will never forget—with millions watching on television, hundreds of family members and supporters lining the parade route cheering them on and knowing there are thousands more proud supporters at home. And while the honor and opportunity are great, so too is the need. In order to make this honor become a reality, it will require strong community support—both financially and through active engagement. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent the school, the community and the state comes with significant costs, including travel, lodging and meals for over 200 students and staff, transportation and shipment of instruments and equipment, uniforms and much more.

Sponsorships and donations are paramount, but so are in-kind donations and services such as printing and marketing support and simply spreading the word about the fundraising events. The band is committed to ensuring that every student can participate regardless of financial circumstances and feels confident this once-in-a-lifetime experience can be a reality for every student in The Franklin Band with the support of our community.

This is more than just another band performance. It is a moment of shared pride for our broader community. Whether there in person or watching from home, we all will feel the beat as The Franklin Band steps off in Pasadena.