The 334-member South Dakota State University marching band is in Pasadena, Calif., for the annual Rose Parade. The band flew out of Sioux Falls Thursday.

The 7-mile-long Rose Parade, which also includes floats and equestrian groups, is broadcast on several television networks.

The Pride of the Dakotas band will be in the last third of more than 90 bands in the parade and is scheduled to appear before the television cameras about 1o:15 a.m. MST on New Year's Day.

Bands from universities of participating Rose Bowl football teams march in the parade. But the SDSU band made a crowd-pleasing appearance in 2003 and was invited to return.

Experiences from the band's trip will be posted during the trip on the Pride's blog, http://thepride.wordpress.com.