Despite a rare prediction of rain in the New Year’s Day forecast, thousands of people will flock to Pasadena to snag viewing positions as early as Wednesday for the 137th Rose Parade, which could be the first one dampened by precipitation in more than 20 years.
The parade, themed “The Magic in Teamwork,” will step off at 8 a.m. Thursday for its traditional 5 1/2-mile procession along Colorado Boulevard.
People planning to camp out on the parade route to ensure prime viewing locations should be prepared for rainy conditions, with the National Weather Service predicting a nearly 100% chance of rain falling both on the parade and on people camping along the route prior to the procession. It would be the first time rain has fallen on the parade since 2006.
As usual, camping overnight along the route will only be permitted the night before the parade, on Wednesday night. People planning to camp can start claiming spaces on the sidewalk beginning at noon Wednesday, but all people and property such as blankets and chairs must remain on the curb until 11 p.m. After 11 p.m., spectators can move out to the blue “Honor Line” on the street.
The parade will begin at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard, moving north on Orange Grove then east on Colorado Boulevard, then turning north on Sierra Madre Boulevard and ending at Sierra Madre and Villa Street.
The route will close to vehicles at 10 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed until 2 p.m. Thursday after the parade.
People planning to camp out overnight for the parade should take heed
of the rules:
• Small, professionally made barbecues that are elevated at least 1 foot off the ground are permitted along the route, but they must be at least 25 feet from buildings and other combustibles. A fire extinguisher also must be readily available.
• People under age 18 will only be permitted on the parade route from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday if they are supervised by an adult.
• Parade-goers should be prepared for cold weather and rain, and dress in layers.
• Tents, sofas or boxes that can be used as stools or seats are prohibited along the route.
• Bonfires along the route are prohibited.
• No items can be sold along the route without a city permit.
• Selling spaces along the parade route is prohibited.
• No public areas can be roped off.
• Ladders or scaffolding that can be used for elevated viewing of the parade are prohibited.
• Open containers of alcohol are prohibited on public streets and sidewalks and other public areas.
• Throwing objects into the roadway or parade route is prohibited, even items that are seemingly harmless, such as marshmallows, flowers or tortillas.
Also barred along the parade route are drones. The “No Drone Zone” ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration also extends to flights over the Rose Bowl during the football game. Anyone who violates the drone ban may be subject to arrest, prosecution, jail and/or fines.
A complete list of parade regulations is available online at https://www.visitpasadena.com/events/annual-events/rose-parade-guide/.
As usual, security will be tight along the parade route, and anyone found violating the law or creating a disturbance will be removed from the area. Parade viewers are asked to report any suspicious activity and call 911 in the event of an emergency, or call 626-744-4241 for non-emergencies.
Parking in the area will be limited and often sells out early, so parade-goers were urged to take Metro or other public transportation to the event. Metro will be providing all-night service on the A, B, D and E lines New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day, with additional early morning service Thursday morning. Metro will also offer free fares on all of its bus and rail lines beginning at 4 a.m. Wednesday through 3 a.m. Thursday.
There are four Metro A Line stations located within a half-mile of the parade route, and the Sierra Madre Station can be used to reach the Floatfest following the parade.
For people heading to the Rose Bowl Game after the parade, a free shuttle will run from 9 a.m. Thursday until two hours after the game, with loading on Pasadena Avenue between Walnut and Holly streets.
According to Tournament of Roses officials, the parade theme of “The Magic in Teamwork” celebrates “the sense of accomplishment in knowing that by working together, we can collectively achieve outcomes so much richer than we can ever experience as individuals.”
Fitting perfectly with the theme, the grand marshal of the parade will be Laker legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a grand marshal in the Tournament of Roses history whose nickname has literally been in our tournament theme,” Tournament of Roses President Mark Leavens said while introducing Johnson as the grand marshal in October.
Johnson said being the grand marshal was an “incredible prestigious honor.”
“I’m still in disbelief because as a kid growing up in Lansing, Michigan, on New Year’s Day this was the thrill of a lifetime just to wake up to see who was the grand marshal and watch the parade,” Johnson said. “And I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would one day become the grand marshal. So I’m just blessed. I know what it means. I know that you had many great choices of other people, so I don’t take this lightly.
“I love this city and this is just another thing that the city has given back to me,” he said.
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