LONDON, England -- Two high school marching bands from Colorado were on the world’s stage to kick off the new year.

Broomfield’s Legacy High and Rampart High School from Colorado Springs were participants in what organizers call “one of the World’s great street spectaculars.” The New Year’s Day Parade and Festival – London features up to 10,000 performers from around the world, has hundreds of thousands of spectators on the streets, and a live TV audience in the tens of millions.

The time difference between London and Colorado meant an early wake-up call for the musicians. The parade started just before 5:00 a.m. MST. Both bands marched past the main viewing stand within 20 minutes of each other.

7News caught up with Legacy High’s band as they departed DIA earlier this week. Drum Major Mallorie Stringfellow said, “It’s kinda unreal. It hasn’t really hit me yet. Once we get there it will be ‘Oh my gosh, this is so cool.’”

The first “Lord Mayor of Westminster’s Big Parade” took place on Jan. 1, 1987. It was given an overwhelming “thumbs up” from Londoners and tourists and has grown every year since. After 25 years, the parade is now the biggest event of its kind in the world and enjoys the recognition and support of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.