For the Hawthorne Caballeros, 2026 marks a milestone few drum corps ever reach.
Eighty years after its founding, the New Jersey-based All-Age Class corps is celebrating a legacy that spans generations – while continuing to find new ways to connect with modern audiences. From a landmark anniversary event to a forward-looking production design, the Caballeros are balancing past and present in a way that defines the season ahead.
Here are four key things to know about the corps’ 80th anniversary year:
1. An 80-year legacy
Founded in 1946, the Caballeros have long stood as one of drum corps’ most recognizable and enduring organizations. The corps owns 10 Drum Corps Associates (DCA) championship titles — the most recent coming in 2021 — and has earned silver medals in the last four consecutive seasons between DCA and DCI’s All-Age Class. In total, the corps has earned “medalist” distinction among its fellow All-Age competitors 34 times.
What began as a small group of veterans grew into a corps defined by identity – from its Latin-inspired style to its unmistakable uniform and performance approach. Over time, that identity became synonymous with the activity itself, helping the Caballeros build a reputation that stretches far beyond their home base in New Jersey.
“(The corps founders) wanted to be different,” Caballeros general manager Alan Katz said. “That’s where it all came from.”
That kind of recognition speaks to the corps’ staying power – and to the sense of identity that continues to carry into its 80th season.
“You don’t understand unless you actually wear the uniform what it really means,” Katz said. “It doesn’t matter where I am – if I’m wearing something with Caballeros on it, someone’s going to stop me and talk about it.”
2. A milestone Hall of Fame class
The Caballeros officially marked their 80th anniversary with a dedicated celebration event, March 7 in the corps’ hometown, bringing together alumni, members and supporters to honor its rich history.
As part of the celebration, the organization also introduced its inaugural Hall of Fame class, recognizing 16 individuals who have played a significant role in shaping the corps over the decades.
The class includes figures from across eras of the corps’ history – including Katz himself – highlighting not just individual contributions, but the collective effort that has sustained the Caballeros for eight decades.
Learn more about Caballeros’ Hall of Fame
The moment also reflects something the corps has emphasized more in recent years – ensuring newer members understand the history they’re stepping into.
“It’s a heck of a lineage to be a part of,” Katz said.
3. Season-long celebration
While the corps’ anniversary event marked a key moment, the Caballeros’ 80-year celebration – which was officially commemorated on March 20 – extends throughout the upcoming summer season.
Elements of the milestone will be woven throughout the 2026 season. That includes everything from thematic choices in the Caballeros’ competitive production to intentional efforts to connect members with the corps’ history, helping reinforce a shared sense of identity into the future.
“It’s been heartwarming to see how our new members are taking on the history of the drum corps,” Katz said.
Following the corps’ historic announcement of its first-ever Hall of Fame class, eight more inductees will be announced at the “Drum Corps Grand Prix” – a Clifton, New Jersey DCI Tour event in the Caballeros’ backyard that has hosted drum corps performances for more than 50 years.
4. Weaving in the past
Hawthorne Caballeros took a unique approach to embedding the corps’ anniversary into its 2026 program.
The corps’ production, titled “Entwine,” is built around a layered concept – one that makes multi-faceted references to the corps’ legacy while telling a tangible story.
READ: Caballeros weaving anniversary web with spider-themed 2026 program
“We needed to find a way to honor our past but continue our future,” business manager David Marks said.
“The whole show is about the spider, and the eight legs of the spider correlate to 80 years; everything will be intertwined together,” he added. “And it’ll also bring about an evolution of music, as we’ll go from the older music to more modern music throughout the show, just as the corps evolves.”
Caballeros’ 2026 season kicks off June 27 in Shelton, Connecticut.
