FAMU’s acclaimed Marching 100 band will be making their third trip to California in the past four years --- their second trip this year --- when they travel this week to perform at the 42nd Annual Santa Clara County Juneteenth Homecoming Festival in San Jose, CA, on Saturday. The community festival, which will also feature a performance by FAMU alum K. Michelle, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and 158 years of freedom for African Americans.
“It's very exciting to know that we're still in demand,” FAMU Director of Bands and Professor of Music Shelby Chipman said. “It’s exciting to have this great opportunity and knowing that somebody’s thinks enough of us to want to fly us all the way across the country to perform at something as significant as this."
Back in January, the band traveled to Los Angeles, California, on an all-expenses paid trip, to perform at the Nike/LeBron James Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Chosen-1’s Invitational high school basketball tournament at the University of South California. And, in 2019, the performed before a worldwide audience at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.