This New Year’s Day, the Edwardsville High School Marching Tigers will perform in London’s world-famous New Year’s Day Parade, and Nine PBS will air every moment.
For the Edwardsville community, this is more than a performance. It’s a point of pride, a celebration of hard work, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students who have dedicated countless hours to their craft. And when these students step onto the streets of London, their hometown will be right there with them, cheering them on from living rooms across the region.
London’s New Year’s Day Parade has dazzled audiences for decades. Known for its pageantry, color, and spirited celebration, the parade brings together more than 8,000 performers from around the world, including cultural groups, professional entertainers, city officials, and more than 20 U.S. marching bands. This year, the Edwardsville High School Marching Band joins the lineup.
Earning the Spot
The band applied by submitting performance videos and going through a competitive vetting process to earn their spot in the parade.
In September 2024, Edwardsville received a special visit from Bob Bone, founder and chair of the London New Year’s Day Parade, and Steve Summers of the London Mayors’ Association arrived at the high school to personally deliver the invitation.
The band typically travels every four years, often performing at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando. But this year, their director, Ryan Lipscomb, wanted something different.
“I wanted to look into doing something that had a bit more educational value and a more once-in-a-lifetime type of event to perform at,” Lipscomb says.
Nine PBS is honored to bring this moment to our viewing audience. Whether you’re an Edwardsville alum, a proud parent, a supporter of local arts, or someone who loves a good parade, you won’t want to miss it.
Where to Watch
The program will be broadcast on New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, from 11:30 am–3:00 pm on Nine PBS and livestream.
In addition, we’re airing London Parade: A Tribute to 40 Years on Monday, December 29 at 7:30 pm and Wednesday, December 31 at 10:30 pm.
Both programs will be available to stream on the PBS app after broadcast.
The Marching Tigers’ story will appear in an upcoming Living St. Louis. Watch and share this YouTube Short.
Contributed by Gabrielle Lindemann, Nine PBS.
