Elsie Allen High School's Mariachi Lobos and two Santa Rosa marching bands have scored a golden ticket: an invitation to perform at Disney California Adventure on June 11. The catch is the price tag. The trip for 90 students, many of them children of agriculture and manufacturing workers, is projected to cost about $72,000 for travel, hotel stays, meals and park admission. Organizers say families have raised roughly $30,000 so far, leaving each student on the hook for about $800.
The Disneyland appearance would be a first for the region, marking the debut of a North Bay mariachi group on a Disney stage. Students have been calling the opportunity "magical" and are keenly aware of its place in local history. "We will be the first mariachi to go to Disneyland from the North area of California," one student said. The June 11 date, the $72,000 goal and the per-student estimate were reported by ABC7.
Back home, the Mariachi Lobos are already regulars on local stages, playing Roseland's Cinco de Mayo festivities and Día de los Muertos programming at nearby colleges. Nonprofits and campus organizers have framed the group as a rising symbol of cultural pride and resilience in southwest Santa Rosa, crediting community backing for the program's growth. As noted by Ceres Project, the band frequently turns up at community events.
How to help
The group has launched an online fundraiser and is also accepting old-school paper checks made payable to Elsie Allen High School. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at 599 Bellevue Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95407. ABC7 links to the Givebacks campaign, while Elsie Allen High School advises donors to write "for music dept" on the memo line so the money lands in the right account for the Disney trip.
The school's website also lists contact information for the music department along with the campus mailing address for anyone who prefers to coordinate a donation directly. According to Elsie Allen High School, including the "for music dept" note is the key step that ensures gifts are routed to the program funding the Disneyland performance.
For a program built largely by students and volunteer instructors, the Disney invitation is a rare bit of spotlight, and local outlets say the community is already circling the wagons to help. Coverage by public radio and community groups has described the Mariachi Lobos as "a rising symbol of pride," underscoring why organizers are hoping neighbors will chip in to get them on the road. Community stations have more background and upcoming performance details, as noted by KWMR.
