Going to watch the 134th Rose Parade in person or on TV?
Here are the Top 10 things you need to know before you go, based on loads of stories we’ve been working on in the lead up to the big day.
Also, we invite you to take a deeper dive on our website, from the history of equestrians in the parade to whether it will rain on this year’s parade to what it’s like to drive a float.
It’s all at www.pasadenastarnews.com/tag/rose-parade/.
1. Basic factoids:
When does the parade begin? : 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2. Why is it not Jan.1? It’s part of a long-standing tradition Rose Parade aficionados call “Never on Sunday,” to keep in line with the turn-of-the-century history of not wanting to disturb horses hitched outside Sunday church services.
Where exactly is it?: The 5.5-mile parade route begins at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena and concludes at Sierra Madre Boulevard and East Villa Street.
What’s the theme: “Turning the Corner”
Who’s the grand marshal?: Gabby Giffords, a former U.S. congresswoman from Arizona, mass shooting survivor and anti-gun violence advocate
Official Name: Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade
Who’s the Rose Queen: Bella Ballard, 17, of Altadena
Estimated live attendance: 700,000
Viewers nationally (from 2019): 37 million
Is it on TV? Yes. If you’re going to view by television, the parade will air on ABC, KTLA 5, NBC, Peacock, Cowboy Channel, and RFD-TV — or Rural Free Delivery. There are several streaming options: You can stream the broadcast via the apps associated with ABC, NBC (Peacock) and Univision.
2. What you will see:
Parade starts with a sound car, a pace car, a Rose Parade opening unit and a Rose Parade Opening Spectacular provided by Fitz and the Tantrums, a Los Angeles band, who will perform “Let Yourself Free,” the title track of their latest album.
Don’t forget to look up to see a flyover from the B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota at the beginning, usually right at 8 a.m.
Giant floats, marching bands, equestrian units. End: Rose Parade Grand Finale presented by Mansion Entertainment Group: “The Heart and Soul of Family Entertainment.” This will be incorporated into a performance by Tanya Tucker, Grammy winning singer, joined by Pasadena’s First AME Praise Team choir.
3. If you go, where do you park?:
Reserved parking (autos, buses and RVs) for both the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game is available for purchase through the following:
AP Parking: ap-parking.myfreesites.netCity of Pasadena: 626-744-7665, cityofpasadena.net/transportationColorado Boulevard Parking: 858-692-0868 or 858-833-0446, ap-parking.myfreesites.netEasy Parking Service: 626-286-7576LAZ Parking: 626-578-1705, lazparking.com/locations/rose-bowl-parkingSharp Seating Company: 626-795-4171, sharpseating.comPaid parking also is offered on a first-come, first-served basis at various lots from churches and nonprofits and parking structures near the parade route.
Driving to Pasadena? From past experience we've found more available street parking on the south side of Colorado Boulevard than on the north side. We've also found it to be much less crowded near the end of the parade route.https://t.co/nfewnYSF4T
— Pasadena Star News (@PasStarNews) December 28, 2022
4. Transportation:
Metro
Metro’s L Line (formerly Gold Line) light-rail has transit connections to the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Game and other Tournament of Roses events. Information: metro.net. The following stations offer the best access to the parade route:
Del Mar Station: Walk two blocks north to the parade route.Memorial Park Station: Walk two blocks south to the parade route.Lake Station: Walk four blocks south to the parade route.Allen Station: Walk four blocks south to the parade route.
Buy TAP card and load with cash at ticket kiosks located at each station. One-way ride is $1.75. Parking is available at many Metro Rail stations, including the Del Mar and Memorial Park stations in Pasadena and Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles; some lots are paid while others are free.
Metro also will provide regular bus service to areas near the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Game and post-parade areas. Buses originate from locations throughout Los Angeles County.
For real-time updates on Metro service, follow @metrolosangeles on Twitter. For more information, call 323-466-3876 (323-GoMetro)
Metrolink
Metrolink offers rides from San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties to Tournament of Roses events via Union Station, where riders can transfer (for free) to the Metro L Line. (Metrolink tickets include free transfers to connecting trains and buses.) Metrolink is offering a $10 all-day pass to get to the parade and back.
Information: metrolinktrains.com, or follow @Metrolink on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
5. Street Closures:
The Pasadena Police Department will be closing the Rose Parade route early to vehicular traffic to enhance public safety measures. Route closures will take effect beginning at 10 p.m. the night before the parade through 2 p.m. the following day, along Colorado Boulevard, from Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard, and northbound on Sierra Madre to Paloma Street.
6. What to wear:
Prepare for cold weather by dressing in layers. Forecasts suggest the parade might escape showers, but rain could come later in the day.
Pack a mask since coronavirus case counts in Los Angeles County are rising. Wearing a tight-fitting mask over your nose and mouth is strongly recommended if you are unable to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from people you don’t live with.
Overnight camping is permitted only on the night of Jan. 1, 2023. A position on the sidewalk may be maintained along the parade route beginning at noon on Jan. 1. All persons and property, such as blankets, chairs and personal items, must remain on the curb until 11 p.m. At that time, spectators may move out to the blue “Honor Line” but not past it.
Small, professionally-manufactured barbecues elevated at least 1 foot off the ground are allowed on the parade route as long as they are 25 feet from buildings and other combustibles. A fire extinguisher must be readily available.
7. Being safe
“If You See Something, Say Something®.” Report suspicious activities and packages to emergency authorities along the parade route.
In case of emergency, call 9-1-1 and know the cross streets from where you are calling. For non-emergencies, call (626) 744-4241.
8. Some sites to see after the parade:
You may have trouble finding places open for a visit on Monday, Jan. 2, the New Year’s Day observed holiday. These places indicated on their websites they will be open for limited hours:
• The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 127 acres at 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007. Call: 626-821-3222
• The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108. Call: 626-405-2100
• The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, is an art museum located in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits.
9. How to view the floats up close:
Floatfest is where the floats can be viewed up close. They are stacked in a row stretching two miles. Viewers can get a close-up of all those fruits, seeds and flowers. Nearly 70,000 people attend Floatfest every year.
It’s at Sierra Madre Avenue and Washington Boulevard in Pasadena.
Floatfest will be open Monday, Jan. 2, after the parade, and all day Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Admission is $20. Tickets are available at Park-N-Ride locations but end at 2:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at sharpseating.com.
Shuttles are free and will be available from two Pasadena locations: one at Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., with an entrance off Del Mar Boulevard or Bonnie near the corner of Hill Avenue); and the other at Rose Bowl Stadium Lot B, on Monday, Jan. 2 only. Shuttles depart about every five minutes.
Guests using shuttles get priority entrance at Floatfest. Masks are required.
10. Connections and updates:
Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau: Rose Parade hotline 877-793-9911, main number 626-793-2122
Twitter: Follow the City of Pasadena (@PasadenaGov), the Pasadena Fire and Police departments (@PasadenaFD and @PasadenaPD), Tournament of Roses (@RoseParade) and the Pasadena Star-News (@PasStarNews).
Pasadena Star-News: Free app (iOS and Android) offers breaking and local news along with restaurant reviews, weather, sports and entertainment reports. The newspaper is part of Southern California News Group. For complete Rose Parade coverage, visit pasadenastarnews.com/rose-parade.
Freelance writer Anissa Rivera and the staff of the Pasadena Star-News contributed to this article.