Rose Parade, Pasadena

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The Rose Parade is probably the most famous and most beautiful parade in the entire world. It is always held on January 1st of each year unless January 1st is on a Sunday. In that case, the parade will be held on January 2nd, Monday. Most people who view the parade will go the night before, bundle up, bring sleeping bags and beach chairs while waiting along the parade route. Others will purchase tickets in advance and sit in bleachers. The Parade starts at 8am on Orange Grove and continues east on Colorado Boulevard then travels north on Sierra Madre. Afterwards, the floats can be viewed by the public for the next few days. Currently, the cost of adult float viewing is US$7 per person. Parking is limited and private parking lots might charge US$10. With all the traffic, it's best to park at 3035 Foothill Boulevard and ride the shuttle to the Float Viewing. Altogether, an adult ticket costs US$10 and parking is free.

1. If you go to the Rose Parade camp out or you won't get a good seat.
2. Please don't go to the Rose Bowl game because traffic sucks.
3. There is always someone at the Rose Bowl even in the middle of the night. Sometimes there are carnivals and sometimes there are a thousand bicyclists riding around the bowl.
4. There is a beautiful golf course next to the bowl.
5. Old Town Pasadena is only a mile away, so go shopping. There is a large variety of stores and movie theatres. Some of the movie theatres have really cheap prices.

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If your a bit adventerous like most folks in VT, then you will absolutely love to see this parade. It was absolutely awesome to finally see this in person. The television is wonderful, but does not do it justice to see them actually in person. We had gotten ticket through the base and they picked us up at certain location in Lancaster. I think that is the best way to go, because you don't have to spend the night to get a spot, because the bleachers are just fine and you don't have to worry about parking either. About the only bummer is they have porta potties and they had gotten used...kind of eww! So that is probably the only down side. Other than that, take a bus, find your assigned bleacher and enjoy the parade!!!

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The first Rose Parade took place in 1890 as part of the Tournament of Roses Festival. The parade has grown into one of the most famous parades in the world. It takes place on New Year's Day and is televised to all corners of the earth. A Grand Marshal (usually a celebrity) is selected each year. The floats are made from flowers and are very impressive. If you want to get a good seat you must arrive early. If you look on the road along the route you will see a rose colored line down the middle of the street. This is so the people driving the float stay on the route. Along the edges of the road you can also see a green line. This is the outside boundary and tells the driver he/she is getting off the road. The route follows Orange Grove and Colorado Blvd.

The Rose Parade is one of the most famous parades in the world, and takes place every year on New Year's Day. The first parade took place in 1890 as part of the Tournament of Roses Festival. The event got bigger and bigger each year, adding marching bands and each year having a different theme. There is always a celebrity grand marshal. The floats are elaborate and some take a whole year to build.

Spectators line the streets overnight, or sometimes longer just to get a good spot to watch the parade. It is a good idea to buy a ticket to sit in the bleachers which are constructed along the route. If you decide to get there in the morning, 4-5 AM is a good time. You will be lucky to get a good spot along the route. The parade starts at 8 AM and lasts about 2 hours. I went to the 2001 parade and along with the game it was one of the longest days of my life. Don't stay out too late the night before, even though it is New Year's Eve.

Ticket prices range from $40-$85 and parking can be anywhere from $20-$50. Try http://www.sharpseating.com/ for tickets.

The Rose Parade's elaborate floats have come a long way since the Tournament's early days. Today, float building is a multi-million dollar business. Although a few floats are built solely by volunteers from their sponsoring communities, most are built by professional float building companies

If you're in Southern California for New Years, a definite "Must See" is to see the Rose Parade live and in-person.

Every inch of the float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds, or bark.