No one I know actually uses the official name, we just call it the Rose Parade, but the true name is The Tournament of Roses.  In case you’ve been in a coma the last 134 years, it’s a New Year’s Day event and it happens along with the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena.  To keep things 100, growing up in Pasadena we would grin and bear the few days before and after the 1st of every year. Simply because of the mass of people who descend on the city.  I will say that if you can, experience the parade at least once.

I’ve been twice and I got dropped off at oh-dark-thirty the morning of to witness it in person.  It’s impressive and memorable.  If you like spectacle, flowers, horses or live bands, you’ll love it.  Plus you’ll have lots of company. 

Floats Post Parade

Here’s something to consider, you don’t need to camp out on Colorado Blvd in order to see the floats, if floats are your priority.  To see them up close and view all the floral detail, the floats are on display at the end of the parade route the afternoon of the parade until the next day.  They call it Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase and is at East Sierra Madre and Washington Blvds.  I strongly suggest you wear comfy shoes because to see them all, you’ll be walking about 2 miles.  They usually have maps of the grounds, so you can pick and choose which floats you’d like to see.  It’s usually crowded the day of, but if you get there first thing the day after, there’s relatively less folks.

Floats Pre Parade

Another tip…my cousin and I would watch the floats leave the Rose Pavilion by the Rose Bowl the night before as they leave the Arroyo Seco and head up to Orange Grove Blvd.  Granted this is usually New Year’s Eve, it’s cold and it’s not as if they’ve got them all lit up, but it’s a pretty cool way to see the floats before they make their television debut.  Parking is super easy and if you’ve got a decent camera, you can get some cool shots.

Float Volunteer

If you want to be an active part of the whole experience, you can volunteer to help decorate one of the floats.  The volunteering opportunities are coordinated by the float builders and you can find a list of them here.  Dress like you’re about to work in the garden because you kinda are.  You’ll be working with glue, paint, dirt and of course flowers, grasses, bark, fruits and vegetables.  Go and have some fun!  The floats will be down by the Rose Bowl and you’ll see all the tents and pavilions keeping them safe and out of sight.

Equestfest

If you’re like me and love horses, check out what they call Equestfest.  This is held at the LA Equestrian Center in Burbank.  You can see the equestrian breeds that participate in the Tournament of Roses and you can walk through the stables and talk to the participants.  This usually happens a couple of days before New Year’s Day.

Rose Bowl game

Last, but certainly not least…the Rose Bowl game happens in the afternoon and traditionally is held between the Pac-12 and the Big Ten.  I’m not going to get into collegiate football but they don’t call the Rose Bowl game, “The Granddaddy of Them All” for nothing.  The one thing I can share is that the contract is the longest consecutive bowl and conference agreement in college football.  I’m a Pac-12 fan myself, Go Bears!, so I’ll be cheering for my Pac-12 team while admittedly not really paying attention.  Full transparency folks…

Here’s wishing you all the very best of 2023 and I look forward to sharing more of the Golden State with you!

May the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back,

Jae