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Rose Parade Route

4.3 (64 reviews)

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Santa Fe Springs Heritage Park featured float in the Rose Parade 2026
Christy R.

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.

Honda: "Electrified Dreams"
Nikki B.

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!

Bernie G.

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.

Bicycling 2025
Franklin M.

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.

Boba milk tea on China Airlines float themed "Biking Around Taiwan"
Christine A.

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.

Goodie bags!!! 2023 Rose Parade
Mitch - Allaboutdafood R.

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

Angel W.

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!

Start of the Rose Parade
Regis K.

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.

What will it take to wake you up?
Omar A.

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.

2019 Rose Parade
Jun L.

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.

Street Banner
Nadine C.

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!!!

Felicia G.

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 !

Grand stand seats
Linh M.

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!

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

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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.

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These old buildings on Colorado Blvd have so many huge windows and it allowed me to sit comfortably on the windowsill.

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Pasadena Chalk Festival - Me and Frankie at the 2025 Chalk Festival

Pasadena Chalk Festival

4.4(103 reviews)
2.4 mi

This is a fun, unique way to spend Father's Day weekend. I brought my dad here years ago for a…read moredifferent kind of Father's Day activity and we both loved it. I really enjoy seeing the creativity that's dwelling in people's minds and they're able to physically manifest it through skillful uses of chalk. Absolutely amazing. Make sure your phones and cameras are fully charged because you're going to want to take a lot of photos. Some of these don't even look like drawings. They look like photograph portraits. There are about 200 artists who participate each year, and you can vote for the best piece. I believe we parked in the Colorado structure and it was pretty affordable. Considering the festival itself is free, this is a great, one-of-a-kind, low-budget activity that I HIGHLY recommend if you're in the area.

It was a good surprise to stumble upon this event. Not sure how often this happened but we just…read morehappened to walk into it. Didn't think much of it as we thought it was just the half block of the street that was blocked off. But then noticed that it also took part of the plaza as well as the street across from that. I just thought it was the farmers market. These artist with their chalk skills are amazing to say the least. Taking a picture and then creating it with just chalk and showcasing it was unbelievable. Each and every artist from all ages displaying their work, from portrait to cartoon characters to photography. Walking through and checking each work out was amazing. Some were already finished while loads were still in the progress of their finished look. Even talking to them and asking what their inspiration was made the process more meaningful. In the plaza area, they had artwork for a silent auction as well as a dj. The whole place was pretty taken with artist on the ground working away. Even with the heat, it was not stopping them. The experience was great walking through and checking out what was being created. Meeting some of the artist was a nice touch to the day.

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Pasadena Chalk Festival
Pasadena Chalk Festival
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Pasadena Greek Festival - Chicken Souvlaki. Tasty and rich in protein. :D

Pasadena Greek Festival

4.4(12 reviews)
1.8 mi

A local annual festival which took place this year from Friday, September 19 to Sunday, September…read more21. I decided to go Friday evening after work which ended up having slightly less scheduled events. However, the benefit was that there were lesser crowds, and the cool, end of summer breeze around the perimeter of the church was just the right temperature. The big draw for me was definitely the food. Specifically, I had a craving for moussaka. As luck would have it, by the time it was my turn in line the moussaka was almost out, so I was lucky to have one of the last pieces. Although the dish was only slightly warm, the taste was undeniably fresh and satisfying. My colleague and I talked about dishes to check out, and he raved about how delicious the roasted leg of lamb dish was. He also mentioned that the dance competition can be pretty entertaining. The group that was up that evening ranged from adolescents to the elderly, and it was clear early on the spirited elderly folks had both the charm and technique down to win it all. "Opa!!!" the audience would cheer them on. The surrounding area included vendors for jewelry, artwork, and even an AARP booth for ax-throwing. Decently sized festival and friendly folks around.

What a wonderful surprise! I stumbled upon this local Greek festival when driving up Rosemead and…read moresaw the buzz of excitement around St. Anthony Orthodox Church. Blue and white tents canvas the parking lot and house the vendors and bar. The festival offered a generous seating area where groups of all sizes could savor their meals and desserts to the tune of live music. The large dance floor means people of all ages joined in the group dances, creating a joyful atmosphere that was contagious! There is souvlaki that draws you in and the indoor hall where they serve plated meals. My favorite part of this enchanting event had to be the lovely grandmas who brought their energy and warmth to serve up their baked desserts, with a side of heartfelt smiles. We love the experience, and what this festival represents!

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Pasadena Greek Festival - Gr33K Festival in Pasadena. #GreatAtmosphere #SundayFunday

Gr33K Festival in Pasadena. #GreatAtmosphere #SundayFunday

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GreekFestival 2023. #Pasadena

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Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens - The stained glass houses on the Luminous Lawn were really beautiful and you can walk around in most of them! (Nov 2025)

Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens

4.1(354 reviews)
7.3 mi

My mom and I took my kids to see the Christmas markets in France this past December. It was a…read morebucket list trip for my mom, and while my boys had a great time, the travel was complicated and arduous, mostly because of my wild three-year-old Wade B. A couple weeks later, my husband and I took the boys to the Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens. They had an absolute blast, and my five-year-old Leo B. declared, with utmost sincerity, "I think this is the nicest place I've ever been." Matt B. and I had been once before, almost a decade ago, with our friends Caroline Y. and Scott S., when we were all young and childless. We came back together, this time with five kids, and as much as I enjoyed it back in the day, I found it even more compelling this second time around. The magic was amplified ten times by the presence of my sons, who absolutely loved all the beautiful, colorful lights. I did buy them shitty Christmas light necklaces, one of which broke almost immediately, causing considerable strife. The alternative, of course, was to deny Wade his request before even entering the garden, where he would badger me every time he saw another child with the necklace. I was not surprised to see that most of the children seemed to have them, every parent having made the same calculation on their way in. Smart and evil of Descanso Gardens to put that vendor right by the entrance. I'm guessing Enchanted is their big revenue generator for the year, and this is a McKinseyish way to maximize. The kids oohed and aahed at every exhibit, marveling at all the colors and lights. We oohed and aahed right with them, and had the additional pleasure of watching them play and interact with the elaborate, immersive displays. They loved the tulip fields, the model trains, the stained glass houses, the trees and music and light. There was also a large platform that served as a dance floor for small children, who partied to the ambient music. Wade was especially taken with this stage, and the one part of the night that did not go well was when I yanked him away so we could see the rest of the installations. It was cold and the kids were up way past their bedtimes, but we all had a blast at the Enchanted Forest. When pressed, Leo admitted that Paris was in fact as nice as Descanso Gardens, but the point was made. Come Christmas, we can take the boys to France or we can just drive to La Cañada and buy a few tickets that support a wonderful botanical garden. We might even manage the latter every year.

Wow! What an unexpectedly cool experience!…read more Pro tips: 1. Bring whatever you like to keep you very warm in weather that seems cool normally but in the woods is icy cold. It was 51 and according to the weather app felt like 47 but I'm here to tell you it was COLD COLD more like 32 imho and head, hands, neck and feet coverage is a must so you can enjoy it. Suggest a warm beanie, gloves, and a down type jacket. Definitely jeans or long pants. I grabbed a blanket from my car to wear! 2. It's an easy walk, but for those with wheelchairs or canes or walkers it can be bumpy and some areas are a bit tricky. Also given all the rain, it can be dirty dusty muddy so wear shoes you don't care about. 3. Bring your best camera bc the photo ops both with people and without are plentiful. Make sure everything is charged as there's no common area to charge things easily. I'm sure you can try the restaurant or store in case of emergencies. Or go back to your car. 4. Be prepared to walk a very slow mile. Lots to see and photograph. Took me about 1:15 and I took my time. You can definitely do this much faster if solo and not easily amused or maybe not big on pics. And you can take a lot longer if you like detail and creativity amidst a natural space. 5. It's dark despite tons of lighting so be wise when walking. 6. Parking is free and easy. Just follow the signs or people. There is a walk to the line from the car. Lots of walking in general. 7. Our park reservations were for 6pm. I arrived around 6:10 and the line took about 20 mins. Was done by 7:40. 8. Cute shopping at the beginning before entering an next to the line to get in. It is an outdoor nursery type shop and two small indoor Knick knack type stores. Prices are typical tourist type prices. Also next to it is a coffee and pastry stand but you have to go first and then get in line or get out of line if you have people to hold your place as there's a line to get goodies. 9. Farmhouse is a restaurant on site. Checkout their Yelp. Make reservations as they book up fast. Good for groups. Food imo is average. Standouts were the beet salad, French fries, short rib appetizer, salmon and halibut. They use minimal seasoning at this place so if your health requires less sodium you're good! Get the pan fried crispy skin salmon lol. 10. If you're trying to cut costs there's an El Pollo Loco right as you exit the freeway coming here and before going up the hill to the park. 11. Great holiday thing to do with a large group. Entertainment for most everyone. If you're an outdoorsy, artsy, creative loving, enjoy exercise and family time type, this will be right up your alley!

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Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens - The beautiful Garden of Good Fortune! (Nov 2025)

The beautiful Garden of Good Fortune! (Nov 2025)

Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens - One of the food and drink stands with seating (Nov 2025)

One of the food and drink stands with seating (Nov 2025)

Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens - The stained glass houses on the Luminous Lawn were really beautiful and you can walk around in most of them! (Nov 2025)

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The stained glass houses on the Luminous Lawn were really beautiful and you can walk around in most of them! (Nov 2025)

Electric Mile - 7 unique Insomniac worlds!

Electric Mile

4.3(47 reviews)
3.3 mi

I really do miss live shows and getting a chance to get that feeling of happiness when you go to…read moreshows with friends, listen to great live music, and make memories. With the pandemic still very much so at large, we are very limited to these types of experiences, but Insomniac was able to pull this off, while still keeping everyone safe. The only downfall (and quite big IMO), was the wait time to enter the first weekend. We waited over an hour to enter GA, and eventually was asked if we wanted to upgrade to VIP for $50. I wish we were asked this in the beginning, but I wonder if they've been able to fix this problem since then. Also, if anyone has attended this and knows the link to the official playlist on Spotify, please send it my way! I'd love to bookmark this entire playlist to listen in my car.

Tickets are $69.99 during the week, $89.99 Fridays and Saturdays, $79.99 on Sundays. An additional…read more$59.95 to upgrade to VIP (up to 8 people per car) and another $20.00 for the service fee. Yeah, it adds up and it doesn't seem worth it, but if there's 8 of you in the car and split the tab, it isn't too bad. We came through on a Friday night. We opted for the VIP package and bypassed pretty much everyone (that line looked like a thousand miles long, so that alone threw all regrets, doubts and second thoughts out the window!) Bypassing the long line was one thing, but then my passengers' bladders decided to go in sync and in unison all needed a bathroom break BEFORE the drive. The VIP package came in handy once again - they have a separate set of porta-potties for VIP peeps, too! Needless to say, there were no lines there either. So, yeah, off to a good start. I didn't really know what to expect, so I decided not to expect too much. There were a lot of mixed reviews on Yelp (complaints were mostly about the cost) so I kept an open mind. THE VERDICT: Totally WORTH IT. This whole production was well put-together. It was beautifully created with a lot of imagination. The engineering and construction alone were astonishing, how long did it take them to put it all up! And I really liked that they coordinated all the lights' movements with the music coming off the assigned radio station (107.9.) And those souls braving the cold as they entertained us with their dance moves... KUDOS! (I didn't get to see what's in the VIP box but going by how each of my passengers went through it like the Tasmanian Devil, I'm gonna assume whatever was in there was fun!) If this is your thing, here are a few tips: 1) Entry is at Holly and Huntington NOT at the main entrance. If you do end up at the main entrance, they'll reroute you. No worries. 2) You can come through as early as 30 minutes before your scheduled time, but try to be there within that window just for the sake of being considerate. The whole thing is about 45 minutes to an hour, all depending on how slow or fast you go. 3) CLEAN YOUR WINDSHIELDS! I meant to, but I completely forgot. But even with the semi-dirty glass, it was still pretty good. 4) Sunroofs are great! I didn't have one (wouldn't have mattered if I did since I was the one behind the wheel) but I was sorta jealous of the peeps who made full use of it. I imagine that's the best way to experience it. 5) You are allowed to open your windows. Just watch out for fog machines... 6) Take your time and let it all sink in. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it, something cool to do social distancing style. It's an event for all ages and a great excuse to get out of the house more especially during these challenging times.

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Electric Mile - Last ticket is for January 24, 2021!

Last ticket is for January 24, 2021!

Electric Mile - Super dope!

Super dope!

Electric Mile - We had to upgrade our tickets to get the full experience!

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We had to upgrade our tickets to get the full experience!

Downtown Arcadia Holiday Fair - My pulled pork fries from Locke Down BBQ food truck - insanely delish!

Downtown Arcadia Holiday Fair

4.5(6 reviews)
4.2 mi

I enjoy going to Holiday craft fairs because I prefer to support local small businesses, and I…read moretypically find cute, unique gifts. In addition to doing a little holiday shopping I specifically came here to see my girl, fellow fabulous YE, Hannah S. When I arrived, the festivities were in full swing. There were two stages set up - one on each end. The front stage featured performers from the local school. I was impressed with their musical talents. The young girl that was singing had a great voice. A local band was playing at the other stage a few blocks down. I took my time strolling through the vendor booths while looking for Hannah. I finally spotted her festive booth - The Curio Cat. Hannah looked adorable in her Santa Cowboy Hat. I immediately gave her a great big hug! I just love her energy and her amazing smile. The Curio Cat is a student research academy dedicated to helping children expand their knowledge in Biology, Chemistry, & Computer Science through research & development. It was founded by Hannah & her husband Derek (who is also very sweet). They teach kids useful skills while boosting their self-confidence. (thecuriocat.com) The setup of this Holiday Fair was nice and well organized. It was family oriented and pet friendly. There were also food trucks and fun activities for kids. Santa was even there for photos.

This is a really wonderful, local community holiday street fair focused on family friendly…read moreactivities that is sure to put you in the holiday spirit! Almost all the booths are decorated out for Christmas and all are local vendors so it's a great place to support the area community while Christmas shopping. Not only do they have tons of vendors, but they also have so many fun activities- especially for the kiddos! They have a little parade led by Arcadia's beloved mascot Perdy the Peacock with the local high school band too. They have tons of lawn games like bean bag toss and a large play area. There's live music on both ends of the fair and tons of food trucks! And they even had a big snow machine!! It was so fun to play in the "snow" in SoCal haha! And the kids absolutely loved it! We tried the Chicken Satay burrito from the ThaiMexCocina truck and the Pulled Pork fries from the Locke Down BBQ truck and everything was fantastic! A lot of the trucks were giving out samples too - all were excellent! The fair takes place on a Saturday in early December from 10am-4pm. Parking is street parking or in the local garages that are within reasonable walking distance. Attendance is free so it's definitely worth a visit! I've also participated in this fair as a vendor and the city of Arcadia does a great job for the customers AND vendors! It's very organized and well laid out. We're definitely planning on participating next year and doing our Christmas shopping here again.

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Downtown Arcadia Holiday Fair - The chicken satay burrito from ThaiMexCocina food truck - SO GOOD!

The chicken satay burrito from ThaiMexCocina food truck - SO GOOD!

Downtown Arcadia Holiday Fair - Pork and veggie bao from Sunday Cafe food truck

Pork and veggie bao from Sunday Cafe food truck

Downtown Arcadia Holiday Fair - Bama and Stitch booth

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Bama and Stitch booth

Water Lantern Festival - Lake with lanterns

Water Lantern Festival

3.1(37 reviews)
8.1 mi

It was a beautiful experience…read more Won a pair of tickets from Yelp giveaway and we were thrilled. The whole event is very spiritual complete with group meditation and community activities. Also there was tons of food trucks for those hungry bellies. We got 2 lanterns to decorate. The kit comes with 1 marker and a lantern with battery powered electric candle to put inside. It was fun decorating it. They gave a 1 hour window to place the lantern in the lake and that was so beautiful. With the lights and reflections in the water. Beautiful experience!

I arrived to this event around 5:30pm and parked in one of the marked lots 4 or 5 - I was surprised…read morethere was no staff directing or a fee as stated, but was a short walk in the dark toward the festival maybe about 2 min-3 min. Walked through the crowds toward 2 pop up tents where you got your ticket scanned and received your wrist bands and box - mine was the date night package which came with 2 lantern boxes. Each box included: the lantern, a mandala throw, a marker, conversation cards ( which I thoroughly enjoyed ) a deck of playing cards. The date box also came with a mandala throw and a light up flower crown. There was some music playing, by the time I had arrived there was no performers, some people went on stage to express their feelings and how/why they came to the festival. There were was a good variety of food trucks and vendors. I wrote wishes/hopes/dreams I wanted to manifest on my lantern. It was a nice intimate date night where you were able to self reflect.

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Water Lantern Festival
Water Lantern Festival
Water Lantern Festival

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Rose Parade Route - festivals - Updated May 2026

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