If you will be in the Pasadena, California, area this New Year’s Day, you may want to make the effort to see the Tournament of Roses, also called the Rose Parade. In 2015, the 126th Rose Parade will consist of marching bands, horses and amazing, flower-covered floats, each decorated in the theme chosen for this year: Inspiring Stories. Honda sponsors the parade, and will have the first float. If you will be in the area and would like to participate in “America’s New Year Celebration,” here are some things that you should know:
You can view the floats ahead of time. If you want to avoid the crowds during the actual parade, or if you simply have other plans on New Year’s Day, you can gather to see the floats as they have their final touches applied. Tickets to view the floats can be purchased ahead of time, or you can get them at the venues themselves, but be aware that once the venues reach capacity, they will stop selling tickets. At the Rosemont Pavilion on Seco Street and also at the Brookside Pavilion, located at Lot I of the Rose Bowl Stadium, you can see the floats on December 27 from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., December 28 and December 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and December 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Alternatively, you can go to Rose Palace on S. Raymond Avenue, and view the floats on December 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., December 28, 29 and 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or December 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. Another option is to show up at the beginning of the parade route late on December 31. You can look at the floats here, before the parade begins, as the area is well-lit all night long.
You can help decorate a float. Many of the float builders are looking for volunteers to help decorate the floats. This is a great opportunity to put your creativity to good use! There are minimum ages set by the individual float builders, so be sure to find out whether you can bring kids or teens along ahead of time, if that is an issue. Also, you’ll want to wear old clothing and shoes, as float-decorating can get messy! A few of the companies that you might consider contacting include the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association, Downey Rose Float Association, Paradiso Parade Floats, Fiesta Parade Floats, and South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.
You can watch the Rose Parade in person in Pasadena. The parade starts at 8:00 am on January 1, at the corner of Green Street and Orange Boulevard. It goes north on Orange Blvd., then east onto Colorado Blvd., north onto Sierra Madre Blvd., and concludes at Villa Street. You can set up your seat along the route on a first-come, first-served basis. The city of Pasadena allows you to sit overnight if you so choose (you can start setting up at noon on December 31). You can also pay for Grandstand Viewing, which is available at various price tiers. If you choose a seat closer to the end of the parade, you’ll pay less than those choosing seats toward the beginning of the parade. The parade takes about two hours from start to finish. If you want to see the floats up close after the parade, they will be on display until January 3. Viewing the Tournament of Roses is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if you don’t live in the Pasadena area. If you are planning on being in Southern California this New Year’s Day, you won’t want to miss the Rose Parade.
Here are a few packages that takes you to the Rose Parade:
Collette Vacations: California New Years Getaway
5 Day price from $1,449
Globus Tours: Tournament of Roses
5 Day price from $1,499
Mayflower Tours: Tournament of Roses Parade
5 Day price from $1,399
Trafalgar Tours: The Californian with Rose Parade
10 Day price from $2,850
Monograms Vacations: Tournament of Roses Parade
7 Day price from $1,049
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published with 2015 information and is retained as a useful reference. For the most current details, contact Atlas Travel Center — our advisors stay up to date on all travel conditions, pricing, and availability. We’ve been in business since 1987 and hold an A+ BBB rating.
