Food, fireworks, Fourth of July festivities … and to tie it all together, five top Drum Corps International units returning to the fabled Rose Bowl Stadium for a special patriotic performance! On July 4 in Pasadena, join the Mandarins, the Acadmey, Pacific Crest, Blue Devils and Bluecoats as they take center stage for Americafest 2009, the Rose Bowl's 83rd annual Fourth of July celebration. Festivities run all day long, with food vendors, entertainment, crafts, exhibits and more outside the stadium opening around 2 p.m. Tailgate or picnic outside while watching the drum corps warm-up before members suit up for their performances in the familiar confines of one of America's most historic stadiums. Rose Bowl gates will open at 6 p.m, before the first of the five groups steps off. Fans will be treated to exhibition performances of the five corps' complete competitive programs with special "instant encores" of patriotic tunes following each presentation.
 
And just when you thought your star-spangled Fourth of July celebration couldn't get any more spectacular, the ensembles will combine for a rousing performance of "America the Beautiful," leading into the largest fireworks display in Southern California starting at 9:05 p.m. "Fireworks in the Rose Bowl have been a treasured Pasadena tradition for 83 consecutive years. We consider our 4th of July celebration as one of our core events," said Darryl Dunn, general manager of Rose Bowl Stadium, With thousands of residents from all over California in attendance for this annual Rose Bowl spectacle, a special seating block has been set aside just for Drum Corps International fans. Arrangements have been made to shift the field toward the south end of the stadium to give fans the best possible angle from which to view the drum corps performances and fireworks extravaganza. Surrounding north side seating areas will be blocked off for the safety of fans. General admission tickets for a section reserved exclusively for DCI fans are now available for $25 through the Drum Corps International box office online or by calling 317.275.1212 x3.