Over the past 30 years, we've annually visited Los Angeles during the Holidays but have never stayed to bring in the New Year, so we've never been to Pasadena's iconic New Year's Day Rose Parade. We've usually admired the beautiful floats from televised productions, as well as the designs, details, and the thousands of volunteers who contribute their time and talents to building the gorgeous floral floats. So, this past August, when I was booking our flights to celebrate Christmas with my relatives, one of them suggested attending the Rose Parade, as it was on his "Bucket List." We agreed to go even though we didn't know which college football teams would be playing in the Rose Bowl Playoff Game, but the game wasn't our focus. Thanks to my eldest brother-in-law for making our first attendance at the Rose Bowl memorable, as he booked Grandstand tickets across from the Norton Simon Museum and secured reserved parking in a lot less than a block from our seating area. Our attendance was indeed not marred by the pouring rain or the cold (well, 54° F is cold for us Hawai'i folks), because everyone around us was wearing ponchos, raincoats, and rain boots or waterproof shoes, since there had been rainstorms throughout SoCal over Christmas through New Year's Day. We enjoyed the equestrian riders (Pā'ū from Hawai'i, cavalrymen, and cowboys/cowgirls), as well as the local, international, and college playoff marching bands. The fans from the respective playoff colleges were respectful, friendly, and enthusiastic. The floral floats were beautiful, and several were even more spectacular when accompanied by fireworks. It was obvious to us how well-organized the parking, seating, and crowd control were as this parade celebrated its 135th Birthday. This year's theme, "The Magic in Teamwork," was well-executed. Despite the rain, thousands of people came from far and near, and we found many others who said this year's parade was their first time attending, even though they're Pasadena residents. They, like us, wondered what took us so long to decide to come to this parade, and we'd been willing to return come rain or shine! read more

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Rain or shine, the parade MUST go on, and this year it rained all night and until 755 am. At 800 am, when it was time for the official start of the parade, the rain suddenly stopped, and only a very light sprinkle lasted for less than 10 minutes. The rain, the large crowds, the marching bands, other participants, and, of course, the floats made the 2025 Rose Parade a fun and memorable event. There was no flyover from the B-52 bomber due to the weather, and other minor items were missing from the parade, yet this was a GREAT parade. The LA County Sheriff's Department was out in force as always and provided excellent security for all parade attendees. Everyone was in a festive, positive mood, and no one had any issues with the drizzle. GREAT job to the city of Pasadena and all parade organizers, employees, and volunteers, especially ALL parade participants. Nothing but respect for all of you. read more

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It's a cool experience to be able to see the Rose Bowl IRL! I've only woken up on time one year for it (so far) and stood on the corner around Old Pasadena so some viewing was obstructed but still so fun to see! It's clear so much time, energy and detail goes into putting the parade together and I'm grateful to have it in person! read more

Rose Bowl Parade or Tournament of Roses Parade is my favorite Event to watch before a New Year's Day football game marathon! It's definitely my favorite kickoff to a relaxed day on the couch with my daughter. I'm sure I'll have something special to eat while enjoying football but for now the parade route sites and participants are the STARS! I'm recommending whole heartedly! read more

First time visiting the Rose Parade floats of 2026. It did not disappoint. Parking was about $20 at the local high school parking structure. We took a ferry at no cost and arrived a couple of hours before closing. It rained that day, but it will still beautiful. read more

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My favorite thing to do on New Year's Day is to curl up on the couch in my jammies with a blankie and a cup of coffee and watch the Rose Parade. I was fortunate to attend in person many years ago and had grandstand seats. As luck would have it, I was able to attend the 136th parade this year and also had grandstand seats. I was seated in the perfect location - at the start of the Parade Route - in the area of the broadcast booths, so I was front and center for all the special performances. In fact, the opening performer, Kiesza, was a few feet away from me when she started her show. Underneath the grandstands was a special area where we could get free coffee, hot chocolate, water, & Krispy Kreme donuts. We even had our own bathrooms. The theme of this year's parade was Best Day Ever, and being here in person was the best way to get the year off to a great start. I highly suggest attending the parade at least once. The floats are so amazing in real life. Billie Jean King was the Grand Marshal, and it was nice to see Reggie Bush being honored for making it into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame along with Mark Dantonio, & LaMichael James. Some of the highlights were: The Budweiser Clydesdales, which I've aways loved. The show opener presented by Honda featuring a performance by Kiesza & Aloe Blac was great. The special mid parade performances courtesy of Visit Mississippi, Explore Louisiana, & Enjoy Illinois were very entertaining. And, the Closing performance presented by Mansion Entertainment Group featuring Debbie Gibson & Betty Who, was also enjoyable. I'm not really a fan of marching bands but Jackson State University's Sonic Boom of the South marching band put on a spectacular show! One of the biggest highlights was seeing the Pasadena Humane Float because the organization is near and dear to my heart. Their "Welcome Home" float won the Theme Award. What was even better was finding out that the three dogs featured on the float got adopted later that day, in addition to 4 cats & 5 other dogs. YAY! read more

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Pasadena is like my second home and even though I've been there for so many years I haven't had the opportunity to attend the Rose Parade until now. Every year I see the city prepping and getting everything ready a month in advance for the big day. I always figured that I'd just watch it from home and it be the same thing. Geez was I wrong! So I had an opportunity that I couldn't pass up this year and that was to watch it from one of the many second story office building windows in the heart of Old Town Pasadena . These old buildings on Colorado Blvd have so many huge windows and it allowed me to sit comfortably on the windowsill. What an amazing experience! The crowd below me on the street level weren't that loud at all so every time celebrities passed by on the floats I was hollering out their names and they all turned, waived and some hollered back with a smile! I only have one advice for everybody that is curious on driving by to see how it looks the night before the parade. DONT DO IT. Do not drive up and down Colorado Blvd especially with your windows open the night before unless you don't care that your vehicle be a target for eggs, silly string and other cake like substances. It seemed as if the more expensive vehicles were getting the worst stuff thrown on them. Some people were getting upset and trying to dodge the projectiles but that just makes the situation worse but don't worry. You're vehicle isn't going to be Vandalize to the point that you have to make an insurance claim. You'll just have to spend quite some time removing all that gunk off your vehicle the next day or as soon as you get home. Overall amazing 5 1/parade that begins on the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Blvd all the way to Sierra Madre Boulevard and concludes at Villa Street. read more

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Absolutely historic route. The rose parade is an awesome experience that I believe everyone should see. Lots of good seating.

We have been making the trek from Alhambra to the parade route on our bicycles to avoid the issues of roads being blocked and no parking. It's very chilly in the morning before the sun rises and especially being on a bicycle you can feel the 40 degree weather. We enjoy walking around the floats and then watching the jet flyover at 800am which is our highlight of the parade. read more

Rose Parade Route - Bicycling 2025 - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is my first time watching it live in person! And it was so fun! I did a lot or research before i went to the parade and even the flioatfest event. I got all the information online, purchased a grand seating @ "sharp seating website" and also purchased a parking permit closed by to the parade route. We are seated in a bench (they are by letters and number) by Colorado blvd in Pasedena. Lucky for us, our parking is just 2 blocks away from the route. People that are seated next to us are families of the ones who are in the parade! We kept on shouting their kids name and laughing, just pure fun and laughter! My friend and i enjoyed it a lot! I have a comment though on the floatfest. We went to the last day showing at the floatfest and their giving away collectible cards, but sadly its all gone. My note, they must reconsider people thats pays the same price gives the same consideration. I would definitely do it again next year! See you at the parade! read more

Parade main highlight launched by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber resembling The Batplane, is always a delight to contemplate. Floats Dragon: Presented by the City of Alhambra, presenting a wonderful dragon with baby sleeping on a stack of arcane parchment scrolls. The dragon grasps the earth in claws reminiscent of DIO Sacred Heart, and ornamented with musical notes inside the wings. Dio thereupon would have been a perfect addition! Shock'n'Roll: Features a graceful manta ray {veritable "sea bat"}, the likes that killed Steve Irwin, and an eel with a sly expression. Rose Court: Looks like a sexy lady shoe, or slice of cake, perhaps pie... featuring the {mostly} lovely court of nubile maidens ready for deflowering. Sounds of Success: Impressive Military Veterans display featuring a Black Hawk Hellicopter and Lockheed Lightning jet. Fireworks "bombs bursting in air" explode from laptop prop. The Tiger Squadron vintage flyover accompanied! Chimes of Liberty: Innately Luciferian display presenting founding Devil Fathers featuring The Revolutionary War in that classic trio scene playing flute and holding flag. Blues Brothers acapella singers float by Illinois. A troupe of "Man In Black"-looking Blues Brothers doppelgangers dance & sing upon a diner like environment. The most amusing element is the voice literally vocalizing the horn part. No Bluesmobile. Mardi Gras float: Always a pleasure to contemplate the Carnivale that is Mardi Gras in all of its sinful glory! Unfortunately missing sexy dancers and bead toss, as well as beer-swilling tourists on the make. Keep Dreaming float: Looks like cars shot out of cannons. First entry held up by protestors at the beginning of the route, causing a brief delay, but quickly resolved. Law enforcement & concrete barricades also prevented a woman from plowing vehicle into crowd, which would have made the parade really rosy! Kaiser float: It's a trap! Hippie bus float "Flower Power": Gives the impression of a "trip", like that's what they see while intoxicated on hallucinogens! Talking, smiling plants, psychedelic colors, etc. Charles Manson & "family" addition riding therein would have been an extra amusement! Lutheran float? Apparently wasn't there this year, making a yearly fool of the nazarene character as a moronically smiling, waving mascot. Woven Together, The Dance of Life float, honoring indigenous Native American Hopi tribe. Featuring tribal recording playing, headress and facepaint bust presentation, butterfly dancers signifying the pollination for plentiful harvests. Sponsored by One Legacy organ donation. ‍ Trader Joe's float featuring a green-faced chef "the fearless fryer" double entendre on the "Fearless Flier" newsletter, conducting an orchestra of broccoli and various other vegetables, including maize cobs. A preferred food mart for the variety of international, odd, and novelty confections & libations. Bee float. Mused that Stryper should be on one end, and WASP on the other! Others included a disheveled alligator, various zoo animals, a five-float train displaying sea vessels in different environments, and sportsball inclusions. Marching bands Among the plethora of groups, The Castle Marching Knights were interesting for the armor-looking uniforms; the beautiful Hawaiian hula girls with the Na Koa Ali'i band, yet no fire dancers!; Kilted Scottish band with Highland dancers; Toho Japanese marching band seemed preoccupied, and probably just wanted to get back to homeland to check on their families after the 7.6 earthquake that morning; Marine Corps looking elegant and playing with aplomb; a small Costa Rican band with purple topknots; The Santiago Sharks with shark fin uniforms. Equestrians included Cowgirls, churros, Marines, historical reenactment teams {cavalries, confederates, etc.}, Victorian Ladies {who look like they would have tea with Morticia}. Forest Rangers celebrating Smoky Bear's birthday, present on float, and his sage advice "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires". Woodsy Owl should also be there, admonishing "Give a hoot, don't pollute". The Medieval Times Knights were conspicuously absent this time. The theme was supposed to be "Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language", yet the "performances" were mediocre at best, lip-synced, sloppy, & obviously pitch-shifted to make up or talent. With no representation of the Rock or Classical genres, not to mention multicultural orchestrations, just generically trashy "styles" and cheap vulgar gesticulations presented as "dance". read more

My first review of the year goes to the Rose Parade. I did not intend to stay for the actual parade as I was just participating in a "bandit run" at 5:30am, well before the parade begins at 8am. There may be more than one group that does a bandit run here but our group runs to the parked floats on Orange Grove Blvd. There's no charge viewing the floats before the parade. I believe everybody should come and see these floats live at the parade at least once in your lifetime. Watching from the street, you get to see them in motion as some parts move or even spray. When the floats are parked, I don't think the moving parts are always in motion. If you have not seen the stealth bomber live in flight, this is your chance as it flies above Colorado Blvd before the parade start. I'll save the strange very ending of the parade to your imagination, better yet, come experience it yourself. It has something to do with the tow trucks. I viewed the parade from the cross street of Lake Ave, towards the end of the route. On my run through the area around 6am, there was still plenty of open space along this end. One doesn't have to necessarily have to camp out the night before or maybe there were not too many camped out because of covid. read more

Rose Parade Route - Boba milk tea on China Airlines float themed "Biking Around Taiwan" - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

Amazing experience. I suggest tickets through sharp seats and parking through ParkWhiz!! Dress warm and make this a tradition. read more

Rose Parade Route - Goodie bags!!! 2023 Rose Parade - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I love being a local & able to come to the Rose Parade live! Parking at my office is an easy choice, but... the route there and out can be BRUTAL depending on where on the 5.5 mile route you are at. This year's theme, Dream. Believe Achieve., brought about a lot of conservation, education & animal related floats. As always, the floats are amazing! The bands and equestrian make the parade. There are major differences in experience when going to the parade and watching it on TV. You get to smell all the flowers! As the floats drive by, you smell lots of flowers and see details. Each float must be 100% covered in organic material such as seeds or corn husks. The dry items are put on months in advance. The fresh flowers are added on the last couple days before the parade. Sounds are amazing! The bands really get into the vibe and play there hearts out! And you feel it through your body as the walk by. You can't help but dance along! The start of the parade always has a flyby, this year's bomber fly really low & slow, it was awesome & LOUD! The energy! Most people are in a great mood and tell everyone Happy New Year! It's great to start out the year this way! We got to stand near some great people of Utah! Lots drove as it is close enough, flew, or a combo (drive to Vegas & fly to LA). Lots of people on the floats would throw the hand sign "U" out to all the viewers & get great responses. The floats are huge and super detailed! You are looking up at most of them as they drive by! One negative is you don't get the great commentary from KTLA announcers as you do on tv. Missed Mark & Leeza this year! The commentary is great because you learn a lot more details with each entry. The floats are available after the parade at Floatfest, located at Sierra Madre and Washington Blvds in Pasadena. It takes about 2 hours to walk through the 2.5 mile showcase. There are shuttles included and tickets start at $20. Parking is available in the usual parking lots along Colorado or street parking if you are away from the retail. Being in Old Town, there are lots of road closures and traffic as you try to navigate through the streets. LOTS of people walk or drive to the Rose Bowl for the big game so there is lots of traffic in the area. I'd stay away from the whole area for a few hours after the parade at 10 am. Overall, it's a must at least once in your life! Definitely recommended! read more

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After two years of recess, the Rose Parade resumed to usher in the New Year of 2022. It's an awesome feeling to be there in person. We had been watching it on TV since we were kids. The excitement and the vibes were so cool. We loved the the crowds and the spirit of celebration. Especially this year after a couple of years of pandemic locked downs, people were ready to come out and welcome the New Year and look forward to a new beginning of a year with normalcy and economic prosperity. Seeing the the mighty stealth fighter jet flying over the parade just made you feel chill in your body and proud to be an American. We are a nation full of hopes and vigor. We will overcome any calamities brought by the pandemic. This year, Ohio State and Utah Univeristy are playing at the Rose Bowl. Too bad that USC didn't make it. The floats will be on display on Sierra Madre and Washington Blvd for a few days. You can get a close look at the floats with a small admission fees. read more

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We won't ever be truly happy if we continuously hold on to things that make us sad. A new year is a wonderful opportunity to let go of those things; a fresh start so to speak. One way to replace that sadness with temporary cheer is by watching large displays of flowers and other members of the plantae kingdom come together to make incredible art. And if that doesn't do it, then there are many smiling people waving at random strangers. There is almost a hundred percent chance to catch at least one smile here. There are a ton of studies that state that smiling is contagious. And not only that, smiling has proven to activate the release of dopamine, endorphins and serotonin, which cause us to feel more relaxed, reduce the levels of stress we have, and are natural anti-depressants. Basically, seeing others smile causes us to smile and when we smile, we become happier. So if we want to get over whatever caused us sadness in the previous year and start the new year off with a little bit of happy, then checking out the Rose Parade can be good for that. I heard that close to a million people gather on the streets of Pasadena to watch this procession, which explains the crowded roadways and congested traffic every 1st of January. I am one of the fortunate ones that live close enough to be able to make the trek on foot, but if you don't, make sure you come out early to snag a decent parking spot and a good view. read more

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The Rose parade parade that was started before the turn of the century. It was in the eclectic parade of horses roses carriages important dignitaries writing down Colorado boulevard to celebrate the new year. Today it's more of a joke. The city of Pasadena uses the Pasadena police and the Los Angeles County sheriff to herd up all the homeless people away from the parade route a few days before the great event of the Rose parade. They do this. Joe visitors from around the world. Don't see the reality of the homeless people in the city. This is a failure from city leaders to hustle and get rid of the truth about the homeless people in the city of Pasadena. The city of Pasadena is supposed to be transparent. Well, let's tell the truth! read more

Hated TV coverage beginning with some singing group. Smacks of why I not longer watch Macy parade. That group had zero to do with the parade. read more

Haven't seen the Rose Parade live for more than five years, and the parade is as exciting and as beautiful as ever. 5 stars!!!!! Reserved grandstand tickets the last time I saw the parade more than five years ago, but decided to save a little money this year by simply going the morning of the parade hoping to find free sidewalk space. Heard from friends that the crowd is not too overwhelming near the end the parade route, and they were right! There was plenty of sidewalk space to enjoy the parade, and we ended up standing right behind overnight campers sitting on portable folding chairs. We got to the route by 8 am, but the parade did not get to our location until about 9:45 or so. Yes, it was a long wait, but it was so worth it! By the time the parade was in full swing, there was hardly any available sidewalk space, so definitely arrive early to get a good spot. Also, bring portable folding chairs. In terms of parking, there was plenty of free street residential parking within a short walk. We parked south of Del Mar Avenue for free, which was about a 10 minute walk to Colorado Boulevard. Yes, the Rose Parade is beautiful on tv, but nothing can beat seeing the floats live in person! Witnessing the majesty of the floats as well as enjoying the music of the participating marching bands is an awesome way to start the new year. read more

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Front row seats at the 2019 Rose Parade in Pasadena! Thanks to our friend, Steve S. for making arrangements for us! Steve is so organized and has great communication about what time to meet (7am), what time the Parade starts (8am), where the restroom is (portables), what we might want to eat (potluck), etc. I felt prepared! When the morning of January 1 arrived, Steve was waiting for us at our agreed upon spot. Everything was as he described...traffic, parking, crowds, etc. Our other Pasadena friends warned us about the people who camp out overnight to save their viewing spot. They also gave us a heads up about street closures, litter, being at the start of the Parade route vs. at the end, and the weather... Yes...it was a cool 39 degrees at the beginning. Halfway through the Parade, it warmed up so we could take off our jackets, scarves, gloves, and lap blankets! Whew! The Parade itself was more magical, vibrant, and colorful in person! Wow! The energy from the performers, musicians, pooper scoopers, fellow audience members, and Parade Marshalls was amazing! Every one (like the baton and flag twirlers) is so talented! Best of all, I saw my clerk's husband's cousin as a horse rider in the Hawaiian delegation. I also saw my friend's daughter playing the piccolo in the All State Band... ooh! So cool! It gave me chicken skin! So proud of them! Let's go again next year!!! read more

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The Rose Parade is amazing. My son and I love the floats and he especially loves the horses. My family and I were super impressed with the organization and timely manner is which they organize all the parade attendees. It's definitely an early morning however, it's definitely a parade you want to be a part of at least once. Plus free the Krispy Creme donuts (donuts) and Jones Coffee was a plus this time ! Awesome job staff and parade personnel . Amazing ! read more

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2020 was the first year I got to attend the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. We were lucky to get grand stand tickets from a good friend. We decided to Uber in to avoid the chaos. The drop off was near Colorado Blvd and it was a short walk to the parade route. We arrived 30 minutes early and had plenty of time to get to our seats. The parade committee offered complimentary Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee. The volunteers were helpful directly the crowd to the correct area. We had seats at the start of the parade route which were so awesome. I was absolutely amazed by the beautiful flowers on all the floats. The designs were also creative and spectacular. Watching it on tv does not do any justice. Having the chance to see everything live and in person was a great experience. We definitely want to come back next year if given the chance! I believe they keep the floats on display for 2 days for public viewing. Don't forget to purchase a $10 souvenir book to support the cause. So happy to get up extra early on New Year's Day to enjoy the 2020 Rose Parade! read more

Rose Parade Route - Grand stand seats - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

Well, consider me educated! Very ashamedly, I grew up in San Marino and lived here for over 15 years, but for some reason, I never realized that Rose Parade is quite amazing! Sure it has always been quite a big thing (mentioned everywhere annually and on the news); I guess I just never paid attention to it as a "local" haha. When I came back to visit friends, they took me on a few Rose Parade viewing route tours. It is truly amazing to see all of the investments and hard work done by the various organizations and corporations in building their specific floats. The floats follow a theme each year (2023 being instruments). It was a lovely tour with lots of exercises and walking and laughter among friends. I highly recommend those of you visit the Rose Parade Routes even if you missed or did not attend the actual parade since it can be quite draining to camp overnight for the parade itself. Enjoy! read more

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As a child I was very fortunate to have seen the Rose Parade live for sixteen years straight. I know! In the late 70's the fun was really the night before. We would cruse into the Colorado and everyone would smear our car with whip-cream on a tortilla. Oh yeah! The more the better! In those years and in fact just last year. We camped out with a homemade fire pit and that greatly helps. Bring blankets with thermals and do not forget the spirits with hot coco. I want to say that when those bands are marching from around all over. It is extremely exciting! The crafted floated boats are spectacular and now with cannabis being legal in California. I am really curious how that will play out. The parade is about 2 hours and bring cash because you might find an indie vender selling hot coco or coffee. Trust me all the local coffee shops will be slammed busy. You ideally want to bring lots of warm blankets to rough it out. If you plan of sleeping over night it is usually pretty safe and you will be or might sharing with a more unfortunate aka homeless. That is really a "if" because the entire Pasadena Police will be out and about. They are usually lay back I have never had a problem with a officer. Just be aware you will be seeing them present. Lots of children and juveniles are present so if you are delicate. This may not be for you. Over all you do rough it out over the night because the concept of the bathroom in the middle of the night will happened. As you will get up and freeze to tingle winkle (urinate). It is not unusual the local merchants or local business owners rent out their back parking spaces. This is what I mean BRING CASH. If you can park in the back of the business(s) to sleep, this is a bit more secure to park and sleep or do what you please. This is not unusual at all, what you do need to look out. Is, if ones they all run out of spaces, to lease you over night. You may need to park further away from Colorado St and you do not want to be walking to far out. Early arrival is suggested. People bring tents,SUV campers. Fire pits and of course lots of wood. You will want to plan to dress really warm. I have never done the bleachers because for one those folks are way up high and frankly they look like they are freezing. I have found out I am just fine standing or walking around. Plus after a while you need to find a bathroom. Many portable potties around to find. When the parade is over be aware that it might take up to an hour to get out especially if you are driving. I am pretty lucky that my grandmother lives down the street. Otherwise it is a great family activity or friend gathering. My over all point is you do not need to pay or if you have very little money. This is a fun activity. If you plan on sleeping over do not forget to grab tortillas and lots of whip cream! The kids love it! The police hates it! Have fun and be safe. read more

Rose Parade Route - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

The Rose Parade is another thing to check off my bucket list! I was lucky to get front row seats to view the parade without having to camp out over night. It was a amazing to see all the gorgeous floats and recognize all the time and effort that is put into each and every detail. This years parade unfortunately had a fire and the ending of the parade was delayed and most of the crowds left. But we stuck around because we sat near someone who designed the Three Little Birds float and wanted to see his gorgeous work. If you ever get the chance I definitely recommend checking out the parade. A few reminders, most of the streets get blocked off so parking can be tough. Bring blankets and dress in layers because it will warm up. Take snacks because you will get hungry during the long wait. And lastly have fun! read more

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What can I say??? This is the world famous Rose parade and a bucket list to many! Amazing floats and bands! Plus traffic in and out was not as bad as I expected! I had an excellent time!!!! read more

So after all the years of on tv watching this thing here I am live. Had to be in parking by six but you know the driver was all freaked so somehow we get there at four thirty. Anyway there was a Ralph's so that was ok. The we hang out a bit and walk around. At about five thirty we find our seats. So as I sit there thinking ok coffee check snacks check I'm in a good place. Well let me tell you about seven/ seven thirty here come the masses tons of tons of people. By seven forty five the place was nuts. The bleachers filled so fast then no leg room then no wiggle room then no breath room ok now I know I made it. The parade was good all the bands awesome the floats cool except the one that had a small fire that kinda confused everyone with the small delay some thought the show was over. But all done and said if you have ever thought about seeing it live do it at least once. read more

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Wooo Hoooo!! Finally the first time ever having the opportunity to visit the Rose Parade. What a great first time experience it was indeed. The beautiful floats, the bands, the horses, the people, the entertainment. All in all it was a blast!!! We had seats in the bleacher section right in front of the Citibank on Colorado Street. My only complaint is that it can be pretty uncomfortable especially with all those bodies around you and no arm movement especially when your next to a lot of people. The crowd was great and the float were beautiful. Thankfully we had special arrangements with the Citibank to use their restroom if needed. Bring warm clothes and get ready for the crowds, it was crazyyyyy. I have to give props to the people who actually camp out to be a part of it. Those are the people that have the most fun unfortunately camping out in the street overnight is not my thing. :) Just be ready to pay for parking and get there on time and try to leave on time, we left 30 mins prior to it ending because our child was getting restless and we didnt want to be stuck in traffic. All in all it was a great experience and I hope to go back again soon. :) read more

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Ticket: $95 grandstand seat (Area One) Parking: Average $30 Parade program: $10 Yes, it seems very pricey; however, the experience is unbelievable. The excitement that I could never get from watching TV. Definitely want to do this once in my life time. Parade starts at 8am; they suggest you arrive by 6am. Finding parking structures can be challenging since many streets are blocked. Wear comfortable shoes, because lots of walking!! It is very cold in the morning, wear layers!! They allow food/drinks, just not bottles. There are security check points. There provide portable restrooms too. Overall, fantastic experience!!! read more

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I have watched the Rose Parade every year & am so disappointed in this year's. It seems like they're trying to incorporate "performances" like the Macy's Day Parade. Not only does it slow the parade, it takes away from the absolutely beautiful floats that should always be the highlight of this parade. Please, please, please go back to the parade I've loved every year. No performances, just bands, floats & let's honor the message each float is presenting. read more

If you're looking to start your New Year off in a sea of humanity and about 5.5 miles of open road, look to the Rose Parade Route in Pasadena, CA. This is a great stretch of Colorado Blvd to take to with your bicycle or ten toes. I forwent the Bandit Run that I originally had planned on doing at 430A which runs the route and instead slept in an extra hour and my boyfriend and I walked most of the route. You certainly will not be alone. TONS of people have begun camping out along this route since 8A on NYE so there are people EVERYWHERE but surprisingly not a ton of people in the street because who the heck wants to lose their primo seat after securing it for 24 hours? Not those folks. This is a great little stretch to get in a morning run, walk or bike ride without being an organized run you are still supplied with a plethora of spectators :) We were also able to see the awesome United States Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the parade route. Fun stuff! There are plenty of sheriffs on traffic duty, K9's, Pasadena Police and Tournament of Roses volunteers so while it may seem completely chaotic there is some sense of safety to it. Plenty of people watching and a nice way to ring in the New Year in your community or as a visitor looking for a fun spot to enjoy your morning workout. read more

The Rose Parade is California's iconic opening for the New Year. While California may be the last to get the New Year's sunrise, they're the first in splendor. The floral parade winds its way along Orange Grove Boulevard, Sierra Madre, winding its way to Colorado and the Rose Bowl Stadium. When I was young, I didn't associate the splendor of the Rose Parade with football. This year's game of Oregon vs. Wisconsin was suspenseful. As for the parade route, be sure to get there early, and find good seating to view the floats. Great way to kick off the year! read more

This review is a bit biased, because as a kid living on the East Coast & Midwest watching the Rose Bowl Parade every year, I always wanted to go. This year, I had a great hook-up, my friend sells seats on the parade route, so we got primo front row seats on the parade route without camping out. Also, he provided coffee, personal bathroom and snacks. Yay! Despite it being 8am (having just slept a couple of hours) and one of the coldest mornings (28 degrees when we woke up), it was a blast! I had a group of 5 varying in age which is a tough crowd and they had a great time. Highly recommend watching this parade at least once in your life. read more

Rose Parade Route - Jack Black on a float - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

2019 finally for the first time I experienced the Rose Parade Live and in person. I've always watched it on TV all these past years. Thanks to Steve S. And arranging everything I was able to not only get parking but a front row seat on Colorado in front of a business. My experience getting there was an adventure due to street closures and what not so me thinking oh just turn on Colorado and I'll be able to access the parking nope I was wrong I squeezed the barrier and was driving down Colorado down the parade route with people sitting around wondering with the heck is this guy doing lol luckily I got out of there and was able to get to the parking lot behind the business. So being half awake here at like around 6am after driving there I now have to deal with the cold weather at least when the sun came out around 9ish it was a bit more comfortable. They had a few big gaps between the Parade and one float was not functioning correctly so that delayed the last part of the parade to the point where people were leaving cause they thought it was over so we got to see one more band and two more floats. Afterwards trying to leave this area was a mess gps didn't help much either taking to streets that had massive backups. Overall this was an experience and a fun one to actually see this live. Would I do it again maybe just my lack of sleep and traffic may hold me back. read more

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I was dreading coming to this parade because I hate, hate, hate crowds. But I must say--even though there were probably around 700,000 people attending, it was orderly, surprisingly quiet, the grandstands were well-marked, and people actually sat, quietly, and watched the parade. It was REMARKABLY civilized. And after the parade, the city began clean-up immediately and streets were open again a few hours later. It was truly amazing. A few tips: Wear your warmest coat, and bring a hat, gloves, and scarf. The weather was no joke. Grandstand seats are expensive ($75 each for ours) but it was nice to just show up and have a seat and be able to watch. It did seem like you could show up sans ticket and just stand on the sidewalk behind all the chairs and watch, so if I did it again, I wouldn't spring for the expensive tix. If you so sit in the grandstands, bring a seat cushion or blanket to sit on. I couldn't believe how cold...and dirty...those seats were. read more

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LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!! My first experience was this year 2015, and it was AMAZING. We opted to purchase bleacher seats in lieu of the whole camping out over night (Thank goodness, since it was 34 F degrees when we arrived). Parking was a breeze, we probably walked half a mile or so but that was to be expected. It is so great to see the floats live and in person, and see all the happy people who worked so hard to get this parade going. The crowd around us was so cheerful and excited, and everyone was having a blast. The only thing I missed from watching it on TV is Bob & Stephanie's commentary, they do a great job of providing all the lovely details of the people on the floats, what the floats are made of and what they represent. CHEERS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! read more

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The Rose Parade is iconic and runs down Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. It's simply a beautiful parade and one of those must do experiences.

To be honest, this year's rose parade was really disappointing. Some of the floats were cool and I loved the theme of music/music therapy. It was cool to see the LA philharmonic be in the parade and big bear float. However, it was upsetting that the hosts talked over the orchestra on TV so we didn't get to hear them play. I also was sad there was no dogs this year surfing down slides. The end was a disaster! The float that had the long train (and I thought it was really cool!) caught on fire and got stuck. The tow truck had to come and even that didn't work! The hosts and everyone involved was not quick to think on their feet and people just left. The hosts could've said the next floats that were up that we didn't get to see on TV and the Swedish band. Instead they talked about family and other things. They should think about what can happen and have a plan if a float isn't working and have better crowd control. A float has broken down in the past. I hope next year's rose parade will redeem themselves and the hosts will either improve or whoever hosts next year will be excellent. read more

A great Pasadena tradition! I'm not much of a parade person. I definitely would never sleep overnight along the parade route to snag a good spot. Noooo wayyyyy... But I'm extremely fortunate to have friends who live a block away from the parade route and who are kind to invite my family every year to watch. Granted, their home is close to the end of the parade route, so by the time we view the floats, the tall parts are folded down. But that's ok by me. Our friends set up chairs for us overnight and we get front row seats. They allow us to use their bathroom when needed. Their parade spots are not teeming with wall-to-wall people. It's the perfect arrangement for someone like me who cherishes sleeping in, hates port-a-potties, and gets very cranky when it's cold and crowded out:( Nothing really needs to be said about the parade itself. The details in the floats are spectacular and being able to see everything up close is truly a special experience. I enjoy seeing the bands from other parts of the country (Hawaii, Georgia, Wyoming, etc.) and from other countries (i.e., Japan). I can imagine how thrilling it must be to perform in the most famous parade in the world. All the parade-goers are in a great mood. It's a positive way to start to the new year. This year, we got to see several anti-Trump messages in the sky above the parade. I thought they were hysterical. "Trump is delusional" was my favorite. Also got to see the infamous Stanford band before their mischief at the Rose Bowl game. It was comforting to see many police officers patrolling the crowd, more so than last year. Given all the crazy things happening in the world these days, I'm grateful the City of Pasadena was well-prepared. A good time for all....Happy New Year everyone! read more

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got there after 8 and didn't have any trouble locating a tree to stand in front of and take great photos ...1st time to the rose bowl and it won't be the last....parked in business at 301 N Lake st ..10.00! read more

Rose Parade Route - I went by myself got there about 8:00 a.m. and didn't have any trouble finding a front row tree to stand in front of and get great photos - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California