I'll start with my tIps 1. Get there before 3!!! Ticket sales stop at 3!! That's online and at the gate! 2. Wear comfortable shoes - there is a lot of walking 3. If you don't want to deal with the shuttles and waiting to get dropped off and picked up..... park on the streets. The last time I came to see the floats I think my oldest daughter was 2 years old... she's now 27! So yes, it's been a while! This event was free way back then, now it's $20 a person! Well, we arrived at 3:18 to the front entrance and the man working there says the box office is CLOSED.... as I was turning to tell my husband a man walking by hands me a ticket and says "it's good"(pointing at the ticket) I tell him "thank you" and he just walks away. So now I need 3 more tickets unless I leave my hubby and two little ones outside.... :) I have no idea who or how my husband got 3 more tickets from but he worked his magic and made it happen! I admire all the hard work and dedication it took to make each float! The ladies and gentlemen standing at each float have answers to all your questions about what material (and how much) was used. It's so interesting to me how all the different plants, seeds and flowers made such a beautiful display. Take your time, take pictures but be courteous to others. We're all there for the same reason. It will take about an hour to hour and a half depending how long you take at each float. There's vendors there selling food and drinks. The best though, is when you walk out the front entrance! Hot dogs for sale!! We scored on parking too, as we were driving up I turned to look into one of the residential streets and a lady was getting In her car getting ready to leave, she waved at me to let me know she was leaving and we turned in and parked a block away. It turned out to be a really nice afternoon with my kids and husband. If you have a chance to do this at least once... do it! Thank you for reading!! 4 stars! read more

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Great way to start the year with fun for the family. Going to the Floatfest is easier than trying to go to the rose parade with small children. Entry is $20 at the gate for access to up close and personal view of the floats. It was very crowded this year. Comfortable shoes are a must because you will literally walk miles trying to view all the floats. If you get hungry like I did they have diverse food trucks. Food costed another $20-30 per plate. I parked on the street and got a ticket. So be mindful of where you are parking but there is plenty of street parking. Know you will have to walk further. They do have official parking there but it's $20 for the day. Just know in recent times you will pay about $40 per person (food included as estimate) excluding parking. The floats are really beautiful to view you can't touch them for they are preserved afterwards for potpourri or the discretion of the float creators. Some floats will give out single roses if you ask and others will not. Some of the float preservationists are not friendly. Listen to the happy float historians and preservationists. They have collector postcard memorabilia for the children to take home. The children have to ask for the collector cards at each float. Overall a great time and roses smell good. However it is a bit more expensive than past years. read more

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This is the most chaotic and unorganized event I have ever spent money on. The event was oversold (we went Jan 2nd) and it took TWO HOURS to find parking in the Pasadena city college lot. Once you got in the lot there was no way to enter or leave the lot due to the high volume of vehicles causing a major safety issue that should be investigated by the city. There was no signage showing where to wait in line for shuttles and the line for the shuttle alone was another hour. The website says to arrive 30 minutes ahead of time when it actually takes 3+ hours to get in. Anyone who bought a time slot of 3 pm or later did not make it in and was turned away at the door after taking a shuttle. We were the lucky few who still got in but by the time we were let in the food trucks were sold out of food and we barely had any time to see floats as it started getting dark and the event ended at 5. Never waste your money on this, the volunteers had zero clue what was going on, the traffic guards were inept and made more traffic and even the shuttle drivers were complaining about working late due to all the delays and chaos due to the disorganization of the event planners. Please do better!!!!! read more

Getting there early is definitely a must. We parked for free at the City College, but the whole process is about an hour from the time you park until you arrive. Overall, pretty organized. Some suggested buying tickets in advance. I did, but when I arrived, I saw that there was little to no wait. You can save some money on the added service fees and just buy them in person. Printing the tickets isn't necessarily. They'll scan your phone. After spending $20 a ticket, save some money and bring your own water. There are water filling stations if you run out. Also, save your appetite for all the awesome restaurants in the surrounding area and just bring some snacks. At 11am, there were crowds, but getting a close up look and pics of the floats was never an issue. Just takes a bit of patience at times. Totally worth doing once in your lifetime if you have the opportunity. Beautiful flowers and scents and seeing the details upfront is amazing. The staff member assigned to each float are very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions you may have. The wait for the ride back at 1pm was about 10 mins. read more

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It's easy to appreciate the craftsmanship of these floats. They were beautifully made and absolutely stunning to see in person! You're really able to see more in detail how much thought and work goes into creating them. Truly amazing. There was a $20 admission fee for the "Float Fest", but kids under 5 were free. We avoided the shuttles and found parking on the side streets. The 10 minute walk from where we parked to the west entrance beats having to wait for the shuttles and being in the ridiculously long line to enter the event site at the east entrance. (Sounds like a total nightmare based on other reviews). It was very disorganized at the entrance gate once we got there, but as soon as we got passed it, it was 2 miles of float viewing. Extremely crowded for sure (it's giving Disneyland), but I still managed to get a few good photos. There were food trucks, merchandise stands, portable bathrooms, and activity booths all along the viewing route. I'd say it was a good experience, and I can't wait to see what 2024 has in store! I think it may be a one and done type of event for me, but we'll see. read more

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1/2/2020 We parked at PCC. There was a long line to get on the shuttle (35 min wait). @ 11 am We went in through the blue gate. They check your purses. I would bring my own lunch and water. We bought the tickets on site. Plenty of restrooms. Free water by the concessions. Tickets $20 Parking free- we didn't have trouble parking Beef Hot dogs $8 Water $5 soda $5 Kettle Corn $7 & $10 Burger only $10 It will be pricey to feed a family of 4. Touring the floats was nice and memorable. 5/5 A lot of photo opportunities. Been there done that. Check Going back is another wait. (20 minute wait) Left at 3:00 pm Nice time read more

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I had attended the Pasadena Rose Parade Floats showcase at least a couple times many blue moons ago. For 2023 Pasadena Rose Parade, I was so fascinated with its theme "Turning The Corner"... I decided to attend its floatfest this year. I purchased admission ticket for $20 + service fee $1.50 online and it included Park & Ride to park at Pasadena City College & take a shuttle bus from there to where the floats will be stationed after the parade off of Sierra Madre Blvd & Washington Ave. Fantastic, right? Well... the waiting adventure begins LOL. On the Monday of 01/02/2023, I got to Pasadena by 12:30 PM, but because I was coming from the 210 Fwy... and due to the road closures mainly on Colorado Blvd, I ended up driving all the way to Los Robles Ave down to Green St and finally to Pasadena City College. OMG... I didn't get inside the parking structure until 1:30 PM LOL. The waiting started outside of the parking garage for about 30 mins before driving into it... after parking on Level 2, I walked towards the shuttle bus area... kid you not, there was a very & I mean very very long line of people waiting to get to the shuttle bus entrance area. It was like waiting for a ride at Disneyland. Towards the near end of the line, I ended up going through 3 sections of tennis courts to get to the curb where the shuttle buses were at LOL. Guess what was the wait time here? Just guess... 2+ hours! LOL. I didn't get onto a shuttle bus until 3:30 PM LOL. The shuttle bus ride was about 10+ mins. When I got to the floats area, OMG... there was a line to get to the entrance LOL. Luckily, it wasn't as long as the shuttle bus line... so this last line took about 20+ mins. What a waiting adventure it was! I was actually calm throughout the whole wait... there's no point in getting all flustered about it especially when there's nothing I can do to speed it up LOL. Patience is key in life! Your mind, body, and soul will thank you!! Finally, I arrived and the floats were within reach LOL. It was now 4:15 PM. The floatfest showcase opened at 1:00 PM and closed at 5:00 PM. I only had 45 mins to view the floats LOL. As you can read, my floats viewing was very rushed. Nevertheless, I was able to get through all of them, but I didn't spend a lot of time with each of the floats which was a bummer... all I have are pictures that I took to remember them by. Some floats were gorgeous beyond words especially the ones with lavender and pink flowers (my favorite colors). Other floats were beautiful with its unique representation of the theme. A good handful of the floats displayed a great detail of creativity, animation, & fun. Some floats brought humor that lead to a smile & some laughter for me LOL... thank you! All floats were AMAZINGLY OUT OF SIGHT!! My #1 favorite float was the Road to Reclamation by Cal Poly Pomona University (my alma mater) with its fun snails & pretty fall rose colors... I loved it! It won the Extraordinaire Award for "Most extraordinary float"! Congratulations Cal Poly Pomona... EXTRAORDINARILY WELL DONE! Another favorite of mine was the Expanding Hope by City of Hope for "Most outstanding presentation of the Rose Parade Theme". SO BEAUTIFUL & ROMANTIC! I can picture myself & my crush on that swing LOL. Congratulations City of Hope! I read 23 out of the 39 floats that participated in the parade were awarded with honors. I want to call out one specifically... Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom won the Isabella Coleman Award for "Most outstanding presentation of color and color harmony through floral design". This was the float I volunteered at about one month prior to the parade. I was so flabbergasted... look for the big beaver... that was the piece I worked on... it has the funky body hair (that's my doing LOL)... of course with the help of other volunteers, hey, I wasn't alone LOL. Congratulations Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom and to all the VOLUNTEERS who made it possible! THANK YOU ALL! Shortly after 5:00 PM, people started heading back to their respective shuttle bus area so they can be driven back to their parking garage. Well, it started to sprinkle... luckily, it didn't rain too hard because we were standing in line again, but now in the rain LOL. Some people had umbrellas... I wasn't one of them LOL. Obviously, I was not prepared for wait and rain that day LOL. I might have caught a slight cold... I'm feeling better now... thank you! Despite of the long wait time from arrival to actual viewing of the floats to hanging out in the rain at the end, it was still all worth it! I will better plan for it next time. If you haven't been to the Rose Parade Floatfest, go and check them out next year in 2024! At least go see it once in your lifetime... it's a fantastic pastime... just get past what happens before you get to the floats and after you're done with the floats. Here's to... I'll see you at the parking garage or in line or on the shuttle bus and/or at the float viewing area... cheers LOL! Happy Floatfesting! read more

Definitely worth seeing. Try to go early in the morning. You can park at the Pasadena City College parking and take a shuttle. Be prepared to walk a lot, wear comfy shoes, a hat and lots of water. Believe it or not it gets hot. You get to see the floats up close. They are so beautiful when you see it with your own eyes rather than on tv. You can see all the details, all the different kinds of flowers and materials they used to make the floats. It's amazing. I have been watching the parade on tv for the last 30 years and been to see the floats only once in 2018. I would recommend seeing it at least once in your lifetime. It truly is worth it. read more

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"Every catastrophe is also an opportunity" - Thomas Shelby Sometimes it takes a catastrophe to make us realize the magnitude of what we have. In that sense, devastation can be a blessing of sorts. The big pandemic of 2020 (and 2021 and 2022 and...) has caused many of us to come upon this realization: the little things that we didn't get to enjoy and the big things too. Sometimes the little things were the big things, but we never knew that until we had some time to think about it. One of the biggest things that was cancelled was the Rose Parade, and as a result, the annual Post Parade viewing of the floats was also cancelled. I've gone to this event prior to COVID and although it was so dusty I kind of felt like I was underwater, it was still nice to be able to spend quality time up close to the acropolis of flower petals without them floating away past me. You could say that this was one of the sights and scents I missed during the pandemic -- so when it came back, I bought a ticket and tried to go back. However, it was a calamity. I'm not sure if the organizers didn't prepare properly for the crowds or if there were some other circumstances that caused all of the confusion, but the event did not open to the public on time. So I waited. And waited. Then I waited some more until I couldn't wait any longer. That is when I left the havoc of a crowd before it turned into a furious mob. I've seen chaos before and even admired it from afar, but when it starts to smell like a riot is going to occur, it's better to escape before the mace and tear gas come out. I may try to go again, but maybe not on the first day. I'll let them sort out the mayhem before I make an appearance next time. read more

Very crowded. Don't go there ever, waist of time. We spent 3 hours in a line to park and to get to the Shuttle. Only 1 out of 5 is used to pickup passengers. At the end of line the Shuttle stoped working. We spend 20$ just for standing in line. read more

Float Fest - Rose parade is crowded - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This event is hugely overcrowded, difficult to access, and ... totally awesome! Watching the parade on television does not do the Rose Parade floats justice for what they really are: works of art that take hundreds of volunteers thousands of hours to put together. So yes, these are definitely worth seeing at least once in your life. Up close is the only way to truly appreciate the size and scale, with the thousands of brilliantly colored flowers, herbs, and even vegetables that are used as decorations. If you get there early enough, you will be able to actually smell the roses and other flowers and plants that are used. The designs are really awesome and some of the colors of the different flowers are really surprising. The longer you look at some of the floats the more details that pop out. Next year if you are on the fence, go for it! Get up and get out there - this is one of those unique experiences that shouldn't be missed. You might even find yourself coming every year. read more

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This was a horrible experience! Never again! It was a complete madhouse! DO NOT WASTE YOUR VALUABLE TIME AND MONEY! Going on Jan 1 means less time to view. (Learned this the hard way) First of all there is only one kind of ticket. (No senior, military, or students) After purchasing six tickets at $25pp plus fees $159 later the only upside was parking and shuttle are free. Parking was a Pasadena City College which was hell. There was no rhyme or reason. After a half hour looking for parking, we found a spot. There are absolutely no signs directing where to hop on the shuttle. Once we found the shuttle pick up at 2:00pm the line is about 50 lanes deep with hundreds of people waiting while others are cutting in line and hopping on shuttles. It was totally chaotic. After waiting for an hour and fourth-five minutes 3:45pm and still about 6 lanes to go, the front of the line is told, the shuttle service in is done for the day. Sorry! People start screaming, there is mass confusion. All that is said is it is now closed. Contact ticketing vendor for further action. The attendants have no answers as to refunds or rain checks. Obviously there were tons of us upset, confused and feeling cheated. There has to be a better way to resolve this. One of the attendants actually said the same thing had happened the previous year. That being said they could have made changes to make the experience better for all. Overselling tickets is not the answer. It's a shame because my family had not been in years and we were anticipating an amazing experience viewing and smelling the beautiful floats. Unfortunately, it did not fair well for us. I just hope this vendor has the decency to refund my money. My advice, stay in the comfort of your home and rewatch!! read more

Every New Year my favorite event on television by far is the Tournament of Roses Parade held in Pasadena. The commentators always have the scoop on each float, high school band, horses, cars, recording artists, Mayor's and various famous people participating. Last year I wrote about attending this Post Parade event and was so inspired and impressed with the experience I just had to come back. Just love to talk to the people in White Coats who know about each detail and meaning behind the floats. The roses are just the beginning. A plethora of flora and fauna cover each magnificent float. This year I saw potatoes and green bell peppers. Each year the floats are accessible to the public from January 1st to January 2nd. Tickets are $15. per person and can be purchased before you board the free shuttle or online with Sharp Seating Company. I highly recommend using the free shuttle service since close parking is really hard to find. The free shuttle/parking locations: Rose Bowl Stadium Lot B and Pasadena City College: 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. (enter off Del Mar Blvd. or Bonnie near corner of Hill Ave.) ADA accessible parking location: Victory Park Recreation Center: 2575 Paloma St. (enter off Paloma St. from N. Altadena Dr.) MTA fee based shuttle service is offered from the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station to the Post Parade venue. There are rows of port-a potty's located throughout the venue. They provide hand sanitizer as well. Food vendor carts are easy to find. Some carry soda or water. A diet soda is a welcome addition for me. Usually we just wait until we leave to find a local restaurant to eat at. American Beauty had a kiosk and they were giving out free pasta. One pack per person, whoo hoo! Just can't help having this gem of a tune stuck in my head as I view all of these floats. Like somebody turned on Julie Andrews voice in my head. Now if only I could channel SiriusXM wherever I go. 'Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver-white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites, when the bee stings When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things And then I don't feel so bad' Leeza Gibbons is my favorite Rose Parade commentator by far. There are a few close seconds, but I just really enjoy hearing her voice and seeing her enthusiasm during the broadcast each year on New Year's day. This year Gary Sinise was Grand Marshal. His foundation helps U.S military veterans. Teams of horses participate in the Rose Parade each year. I never get tired of their stunning beauty, elaborate costumes and excellent horsemanship showcased by each rider. Bummer you can't visit them too after the parade, just like the floats. My favorite this year was the mini therapy horses wearing angel costumes complete with wings. So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary out of Hemet CA, has rescued over 100 abandoned horses. Additionally, 50,000 adults and children have been visited by these horses for therapy. Ktla 5 pins with Rose Parade logo's go out each year. People collect and trade them! Although it was unseasonably warm on January 2nd, the flowers did remarkably well. read more

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First time doing this and glad I did as it was fascinating to see the detail of each float that participated in this years Rose Bowl Parade. I appreciated that they had float representatives and RB officials on hand at most floats to answer any questions. It was nice that there were around 15 food trucks throughout the route although most had long lines. You were able to get pretty close to each float. The only downside is that it felt as if they may have oversold the event as it was quite crowded. That added in with the fact that everyone is clamoring to get the ideal photo, it creates for a challenging experience. I purposely waited until the late afternoon of January 2nd figuring the crowds would be less however that was not the case. All in all, even with the massive crowds, I would do it again. More than $20 and I'd re-consider. read more

After reading reviews prior to attending this event yesterday, I knew I would not be dealing with the free parking/shuttle at the college. I purchased tickets for the 9-12 time slot. I arrived to the area at 7:45am and found parking in a nearby neighborhood right across the street. Waited in my car for about an hour and then walked across the street to the entrance. All they did was scan my ticket, no bag check as mentioned online. Once we got in it I wasn't too crowded. We were able to walk around and see every float. Spent about an hour and half walking around and then left. It started getting crowded as we were walking out and once we got to the entrance/exit the line to enter was very long. Since this event seems to be oversold and unorganized, I think the key is to park in a nearby neighborhood and arrive early! read more

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Hours were advertised as 1:30 to 5:00 We arrived at 1:45 and didn't get to the floats until 4:00!!! WTF?? Horrible experience. By the time we got to see the floats we were all so pissed off we did not enjoy it at all. Why in hell wouldn't they advise people to take an Uber to the high school??? Day ruined. Happy New Year. read more

I went with a bus tour to the Tournament of Roses Parade and after the parade we drove the the float viewing area where we had a couple of hours to look around. The parade and its excitement were wonderful, but seeing the floats up close and on both sides was superb! You have the ability to talk to float/parade officials who can answer questions. Some of the float animations were not active but most were. Bring patience with you. The traffic going to the viewing area after the parade is heavy and there are some waits when it backs up. Wear comfortable shoes for walking. The total distance is about 2 1/2 miles and that's just on Sierra Madre and the surrounding two areas. Depending on where you park, you may have a lot longer walk. I was able to see most of the floats and get close-up photos but I did manage to miss 3 floats. It was time to get back to the bus for the ride home. If you are in Pasadena on either of the two days--the parade day or the next--and you haven't seen the parade, do go and enjoy the floats. They really are works of art. read more

Float Fest - 2017 parade. - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

What a totally fun experience at the Rose Parade Float Viewing on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017! The actual Rose Parade was on January 2nd this year, but this was the viewing of the floats post-parade. It was completely my speed. I was the kid who had to linger at every museum display, and examine every little boring detail. So the nerd in me enjoyed every little seed and berry that made up the floats. It might have taken me about three hours, beginning to end. You might not want to accompany me if you're not a stop-and-smell-the-roses type. Parking at Pasadena City College was smooth and easy. Tickets sold at the white tents just outside of the parking structure. No lines. Tickets are $13 each, with free shuttle access. There was a small line for the shuttle, but it was quick moving. We got on the shuttle in no time, and it was pretty smooth sailing the whole rest of the day. We got there at 11am, and didn't really notice much of a crowd until towards the end of our visit at about 1pm. So I guess the secret is morning hours on Day 2! Everyone on the shuttle back went to check their Fitbits. Everyone clocked in about 4 miles. You'll definitely get your steps in for the day! It made for a fun day! The surfing dogs were, of course, my personal favorite. Turbo, the Golden Retriever, came out after his performance, and was hugging all on me; totally made my day! =) They can sense a Goldie lover when they're in the presence of one! ;-) Thanks to Dianna D. for the inspiration! Lived in SoCal my entire life, but never knew this was even a thing! ;-) (Review #200) read more

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For 2017, admission is $13 and free for age 5 and under. There are three entrances at Pasadena High School with the one of the entrance on Sierra Madre and Paloma which was pretty crowded. I parked in the residential neighborhood and walked in. I went with six adults and six kids under 5. I got there at 2:30 PM (last time the shuttle runs) and tried to use their free shuttle at Pasadena City College but couldn't find parking. It was really frustrating because they let all these cars in without counting the number of parking spaces and didn't close the structure until a car came out and said there was no parking spaces left. Since the cutoff to buy tickets was at 3 PM, I ended up buying tickets online costing an extra $2 per ticket. No need to print; just show barcode on your phone. Last entry was at 4 PM but by 3:40 PM sheriffs were already closing the gates while half of my party was still walking in. So crowded! Our plan was to go later to avoid the crowd but it was still pretty crowded. I saw a lot of people turned away because they didn't make the cutoff time to buy tickets who said they came from afar. We saw a majority of the floats in the 1.5 hour span we were there but it got dark pretty quickly by 5pm when it closes. It was fun to experience once, but be aware of the crowd, picture taking, selfie sticks, and some obnoxious spectators that just run into you. I wish they insisted and maintained one way traffic so that visitors weren't dodging and running into one another. Along with the stationary floats, sheriffs were trotting along on horses, paramedics trucks were hanging out, and other sponsors set up booths. They sell food inside as well. I saw a few food trucks, churro and kettle corn vendors, and outside there were street vendors with hot dogs. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! read more

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OMG.....the only thing better than watching the parade is viewing the floats up close and personal! We scored a street parking spot a block from the entrance on Washington. Otherwise it is $10 or take the free shuttle from a remote parking lot which is also free. The entry fee is $13 and young kids are free. We brought our granddaughter and she loved it. The floats are so beautiful and the most common flower is the rose....they were so beautiful. So much imagination goes into the floats and everything is built at the last minute so the flowers are so fresh. We walked the entire viewing area and was continously amazed at the beautiful designs. They had first aid stations located throughout the viewing area. Quite a bit of visible security which was reassuring due to the large mass of people there. You have many choices for snacks like hot pretzels and churros. Hot dogs, pastrami sliders, tacos, burritos and one of my favorites California Pizza Kitchen! Make sure you wear good walking shoes! read more

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I would highly recommend going to view the Rose Parade floats if you can. The showcase of all the floats began on January 1st in the afternoon and goes through January 3rd. 4 p.m. is the last entry on January 3, 2016. INFORMATION: - Floats available for viewing the afternoon of the parade at 1 p.m. and a couple days after. - Hours for residents who live nearby and, seniors and disable guests are 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. - Regular hours for all others from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry) - Admission is $10.00. Children 5 and under are free. - $3.00 for shuttle from Park & Ride lots at The Rose Bowl Lot B, Pasadena City College and the Community Education Center. - Street parking is extremely limited. No parking signs posted in all the residential areas. - There are lots of porta potties, water stations, food and souvenir vendors. - Go as early as possible because it can get crowded. read more

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It's kind of a cluster fuck. But well organized I'll admit. The lines to purchase tickets and to get on the shuttle are worthy of Disneyland crowd handling. A Very organized and well oiled machine. However once you get to the viewing area...LET LOOSE THE HOUNDS OF HELL!!! I think all of LA and the trolls visiting the fine city of Pasadena come to see what was on the teevee just moments ago. Well that's off my list for next year. Too many people at one place for me. Happy new year Yelp family! Cheers!!! read more

Float Fest - Insane. - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

Pro-tip: buy the tickets online if you can before visiting. Expect crowds and difficult parking. Side streets are closed off from general parking and there is a strong police presence at the site and surrounding areas. Inside the parade area, food is premium priced. Churros in a normal setting cost in the neighborhood of a dollar. They are an unreal $6 once you get inside. Once inside the layout is straight forward. Down one street, up the next, u-turn back to the intersection down the street to finish seeing the floats, turn around and walk back to the exit. The floats are placed in a "T" fashion. The floats change yearly and have long been on my bucket list to see. I have often heard from newscasters about how wonderful it smells...I smelled more cologne than I did the flowers. Impressive to see, especially if you are from So. Cal read more

Float Fest - It is going to be crowded no matter the time you visit. - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The Rose Parade Float Viewing which occurs immediately after the New Year's Pasadena Rose Parade is the best seat in the house. Rather than go early to squat a spot on the parade route for floats to pass by, you can come to the Float Viewing, take your time and come inches from the actual floats, up close. You can take photos of or with the floats too. It's about 2 miles of walking from what I hear, and there's balloons at each gate point, for which there were 3, and you can walk up and down the areas to check out the nearly 50 different floats on display. There's food vendors there as well too, and adequate port-a-potty outhouse restrooms. It's very organized. Admission is $10 per person, so can be considered high, but if the funds go back to the organization and also for the upkeep of this event, it's worthwhile. You'll be able to spend at least 1 hour here if not up to 3 hours walking around. Where the parade have people on the floats, live audio and music and all of the pageantry and energy of that event, this is a bit more sedate. So, I can see the benefit of both events separate or together. Parking in the area is tough. There is a paid parking lot from what I hear. Also, the residents in the immediate area offer their driveways and lawns for public parking, but charge (how much I don't know) and the adjacent residential streets also have not so ample street parking where a lot of luck, timing and karma come into play along with the willingness and ability to walk several blocks to the ticket gate. It's faster if you buy your tickets online or come and pay cash for your tickets at the event, but they also take credit cards. I went to the 2016 New Year event, and it was crowded but respectfully organized, so wasn't chaotic and a very pleasant experience. Lots of kids and strollers as well as a few walkers and wheelchairs, so this is a family oriented event for all ages. read more

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Waiting in line to enter the parade post viewing that should have opened at 1pm. Ridiculous! Then everyone who arrives via charter bus gets to cut line in front of all of us who have already been waiting....and waiting. read more

Float Fest - Post parade viewing - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

This was my first visit here having never been much of a Rose Parade fan, but I thought seeing them in person would give me a better appreciation for them. I'm glad I did, but definitely do your research on their website before going. Floats change yearly, so plan for it. Here are my tips as a first timer: 1) Definitely visit their website for tips and information. It is a wealth knowledge you'll need to know before you go. You can purchase your tickets on the links they provide and print out the tickets in addition to the e-ticket. You can also purchase tickets at the white tents before you board the shuttle buses too. 2) GO EARLY!!! Other reviewers have complained they couldn't get in because they were too close to the cut off time and gave 1 star. Like anything popular in California, leave plenty of time for travel, parking and walking to the venue or in this case the shuttle. You also beat the crowds as they day gets later, more people arrive and taking pics becomes almost impossible. 3)Free parking is at either the Rose Bowl or Pasadena City College (Park here if you can). Free shuttle buses are provided from both sites and are highly recommended by the Float Association and so do I. They have signs everywhere and helpful "white suiters" to point you in the right direction going to and from the floats back to parking. Walking to the Floats is not a short distance from the parking sites and the surrounding neighborhoods have "No Parking" signs everywhere. 4) Definitely wear comfy shoes because you will be doing A LOT of walking. A hat, sunglasses and sun block are recommended as well. Water is provided, but I suggest you bring an empty bottle and fill up there if you don't mind carrying it around. The floats line up and down two streets and some views are best on uneven surfaces. They give you a free map so you can find whatever particular float you want to see. 5) If you must bring a bag, make them the clear plastic kind to make it easy for the staff to check. You can still bring your own non-clear bag, but it'll take longer for the staff to check. It's really up to you. 6) There are handicap shuttles for those who need it, but I suggest looking up that info on their website as their drop off/pick sites are different. Summary: I actually enjoyed my visit to see the Floats even though I'm not an avid Float fan. Seeing them up close, you get to see the details you can't see if you watch them on TV and get the chance to learn more details about the float in front of you. You also get to appreciate the size of these floats too as some truly are massive in size. There are vendors and food trucks for purchase spread out throughout the site , but they can get pricey. As I said before, the later it gets, the more crowded it becomes, so go early if you can to avoid most of the crowds. I found my way back to my car with the helpful staff, so I say it was pretty well organized. I'd come back again on another year... read more

How many of you, as kids, or even today look forward to the Rose Bowl parade to view all of the big, bold, beautiful animated floats covered and smothered in flowers of every color? To my child heart ~ it was magical! Today a group of us went to view these floats up close. One of my childhood dreams was to help make these floats. I'm signing up for next year! It's crazy how big they actually are! And the smell was amazing If you have never had the opportunity to view these floats up close and personal, I highly recommend paying the $10 entrance fee and walking through the warehouses where these floats are transformed from skeletons to beautiful animated works of art that come to life as they roll down the street. Here's a little tidbit of information I pulled off of the website that we did not know... "Never on Sunday" tradition The Tournament of Roses® has had a "Never on Sunday" tradition since 1893, the first year since the beginning of the Tournament, that New Year's Day fell on a Sunday. The Tournament wanted to avoid frightening horses that would be hitched outside churches and thus interfering with worship services so the events were moved to the next day, January 2. Though horses are no longer outside local churches, the tradition remains to this day. ~https://www.tournamentofroses.com/events/roseparade Happy new year! read more

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Worst experience, 2023. Waited 30 mins to get in to the parking and two hours of waiting to get into one of " 10 shuttles" per a rose parade employee. After two hours of standing in epic lines, I left. Complete waste of money, gas, and time. Way OVERSOLD pre-purchased tickets with a serious lack of planning to support the event and number of ticketed participants. Beyond disappointed and someone should be held responsible for my time and money. Any unused tickets should be refunded as those accepting payment did not deliver any advertised experience. read more

I watched the Rose Parade on tv and the floats looked great.  You get to see people on the floats and the movement.  It made me want to see them even more in person.  In person you get to see the little details that make up the float.  You can spend as much time looking at a float as you want.  Closing time is my favorite part of the day as most of the people have left and you can smell the scents of the flowers best. read more

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One hour in the parking structure to park and another hour to wait in line for a shuttle. If the shuttle stops at 2:30 I can just have time to get back in my car and fight the other cars to get out. $20 bucks a head to wait in lines and go nowhere! read more

If you love the parade, then you simply must go see the floats on display. Seeing it on TV and being at the parade, you don't get to see and appreciate the detail and effort that goes into making these amazing works of art! We were part of a tour bus group. We parked at the Elementary School near the blue balloon, and walked to the entrance. There were law officers helping direct traffic at the intersection. Our tour guide gave us our tickets, so we just went through the quick bag check and ticket scan. The green balloon is what I'd call the top of the hill. We took a group photo in front of the first float, and then had 2 hours to see all the floats we wanted and get back to the bus. It wasn't enough time. We had 1-2 minutes at each float. There were volunteers at each float or float grouping. Some were handing out collectors cards (not really sure what that got you), and those dressed in white with red armbands had sheets in sleeves full of all the information about the float materials and sponsors. There were additional people at some of the floats who'd helped design and build. I really appreciated those, and they knew more about the floats without having to read it from a sheet. In addition to the float displays, they had the therapy horses that you could meet, some of the historic cars, and social media screens to take pictures. The first float of the parade was available for you to stand right up next to it for photos, with a volunteer taking the photos and managing the line. There were concessions and even a water truck to refill your bottles. There was a stage for performers, but we were there too early in the day to experience that. Go early! read more

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This was my first time viewing the floats after the Rose Parade. It is great being so close and being able to see all the detail. Also, the staff at each float were very knowledgeable about what materials were used on the respective float as well as friendly. I can't give it a 5 because the lines for the shuttles to get here were outrageously long. Once we were in the viewing area, it is a free-for-all walk around to see the floats, but the volumes of people, especially as the afternoon went on were way to much. A little more order to the chaos would help. I would go again for the beauty and detail, but I would consider alternate transportation and get there right when they open to take advantage of smaller crowds as long as possible. read more

Float Fest - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

Unless you enjoy waiting in line, don't bother trying to go to the Floatfest. I'm not sure if it's a result of serious mismanagement, greed or both but they've stripped all the joy and fun out of this event. While the rest of us are hoping to see flowers, all the ToR sees are dollar signs. read more

If no stars was an option that is what it's worth. Total nightmare to get to the floats. Be prepared to stand in line for 2 hours to board a shuttle bus from the Pasadena college lot. Then after a 15 minute bus ride you'll have to wait another 30 minutes in the "priority " line to get in. read more

DO NOT GO!! Epic fail. Tried to park near the event. Mile long line to get in. Decided to try the shuttle. They wouldn't let us in the parking lot to park. The line to the shuttle was 2 hours lone. So we left. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. Very disappointing that the Rose Parade is associated with this. read more

This event is not organized. I wants to give this a zero star. We got to PCC before 1pm and the nightmare started just getting to the parking lot. Took an hour just to get inside then line was so long to take the shuttle. After 3 hours of wasting time hoping to see the floats, we left around 3 with the long line still going on. This is such a waste of time and money. read more

Absolutely a disaster!!! It is so poorly managed. Bought tickets. Got to the parking structure for the shuttles at 1pm. The event started at 1:30. The line was over 2 hrs long to get on a shuttle. So we walked the 2.5 miles to get there. And when we arrive the line to get in was over a mile long. We didn't even get in. We called and Uber and left. If this wasnt so poorly managed there would not be so many delays. Will NEVER go again read more

I enjoyed the floats as did my family. All the volunteers were friendly and open to questions. It was very hot and they needed more drink stations and ice cream! read more

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The parking was ridiculous. We had to walk 2 miles to get to the nearest entrance. But do you expect? Supposedly it is a huge spectacle. The float construction is kind of amazing. You can only imagine how much product and human labor it takes. It is amazing, but there's just so many people. Food wise, there isn't much. Just your basic concession stand food, like hot dogs, pretzels, churros, etc. I didn't see too many food trunks. Maybe there were at a certain time but not from 3p-5p on January 1st. Great experience. But I would never do it again. More for old ladies. read more

I try to view the floats every year after the Rose Parade. When I was younger I loved the experience of camping out and freezing my butt off on Colorado Boulevard waiting for the floats, but sleeping in and visiting them the next day is now more my style. Finding parking on the street is very hard, I paid $5 to park in a private lot and still had to walk a little distance. Tickets to the viewing are $10. This process is a little sloppy. There are long lines and many ticket windows are open, but everyone just kinda corrals into an area and merges into a couple lines. This process will take about a half hour. This year it was hot, so bring a hat , sunscreen , and water. The floats are beautiful up close and personal. You can see the intricate work and precision with the flower placement. Did I mention the smell? The area smells very floral. It is a very comforting and present smell. Feel free to take up close and personal pictures. Sometimes the people associated with the float are there and you can meet and talk to them. Yes there is food there. They have your usual fair type foods : kettle corn , cotton candy, churros, tacos, drinks , ice cream etc. This viewing is fun for the young and old. It is very wheelchair accessible. The whole process lasts approximately 2 hours from ticket purchase . read more

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