America's Youth On Parade is the premier national baton twirling championships and Miss Majorette of America national pageant. We showcase the incredible talent and beauty of America's youth through the art of baton twirling. Join us for a week of excitement, competition, and celebration!

The brainchild of Don Sartell, the very first AYOP was held on July 17-20, 1966 at the University of Mississippi at Oxford. Previous national championship contests that were held in South Milwaukee were moved to AYOP in the brand new air-conditioned coliseum at the University of Mississippi. Up until this time various individual national championship events had been held in various locations around the country, some of which were even held outdoors in grassy areas. This is the first year of several new national championship events including national parade corps championship, national dance twirl group championship, national strutting championship, national team championship, and national two baton championship among others. In total there were to be 18 championship events as part of the first AYOP, and would all be held indoors at the same huge event venue to forever be known as America's Youth on Parade.

By 1968 Mr. Sartell had been looking for a different location for AYOP and had his eye on the University of Tennessee but the building wasn't air-conditioned. In 1969 AYOP was moved to the Syracuse Coliseum in New York for one year.

After reading an article in a show business journal about a gigantic athletic and convocation center being built on the campus of University of Notre Dame, Mr. Sartell made a visit to the campus. He wasn't sure if they university would even have an interest in baton twirling at it's facility since at the time Notre Dame was an all male school and the majority of participants of AYOP are female. He met with John Plough of Notre Dame and toured the double domed facility including the brand new Athletic and Convocation Center (now Joyce Center). A lunch with Mr. Plough and Audrey Conley of the South Bend Chamber of Commerce was full of Don explaining baton twirling to the two, after which Don was allowed to sit in the dark new arena to consider the possibilities for baton twirlers and AYOP there. To this point the facility had not been used for any type of large show. By the end of the day Mr. Plough and Don shook hands and AYOP found its permanent home to begin in 1970.

Since that time AYOP has utilized a number of variations of the arena, field house, and multiple side gyms to put on the longest running, largest national baton twirling championship contest in the world. Hundreds of thousands of individuals have competed at AYOP over the years in various solo and group events.

As times change so have some of the events but the core championship events continue to this day. NBTA national solo, team, and corps champions and Miss Majorette of America pageant are the heart of the week long event. And as times change the NBTA and AYOP staff is dedicated to keeping the traditions of the past alive while being innovative and growing baton twirling and AYOP into the future.