Pictured: The Riverside High School Kiltie Band will perform in the 2025 London's New Year's Day Parade.

When the London’s New Year’s Day Parade (LNYDP) kicks off in less than a week, it will be with two high school bands from Sarasota County participating, as both the Riverview High School Kiltie Band and the Venice High School Marching Band cross the pond to represent their community in the annual celebration. The Venice High School Wind Ensemble and RHS Kiltie Wind Ensemble are also making the trip, with each performing in the accompanying LNYDP Concert Series.

Established in 1987, the LNYDP today performs to an estimated street audience of 500,000 people, with the live television broadcast reaching a possible 500 million globally. The Riverview High School Kiltie Band and The Venice High School Marching Band will be among the 10,000 musicians and marchers coming from the UK, Europe and the US for a two-mile-long performance that can last more than three hours. For the Kiltie Band, this will be their third performance abroad. It will be the first for the Venice High School Marching Band.

Held in the days before and after the parade, the LNYDP Concert Series brings choirs and ensembles from around the world to perform in eclectic venues that range from historic churches to modern jazz clubs. And on December 30, both the Venice High School Wind Ensemble and the RHS Kiltie Wind Ensemble will perform in St. John Smith’s Square, a converted 18th century church in the English Baroque style. Built in 1728, it was nearly leveled by German bombs in 1942 but has since been restored.

The Riverview High School bands are led by Riverview Director of Bands Tamara Lewis, and the Venice High bands led by Directors of Bands David Wing and Preston Ridgell. All have received the endorsement of Visit Sarasota County, which has helped sponsor the musicians’ travel to London.

“We’re proud to support these talented young musicians with a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Erin Duggan, President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County. “Each of these schools has a celebrated tradition of musical excellence that’s cherished by our community – so much so, families choose to move here for these very programs.”

To watch the London’s New Year’s Day Parade and support the performers, the parade will be available to stream on PBS.org or the PBS app.

Pictured: The Riverside High School Kiltie Band will perform in the 2025 London's New Year's Day Parade.