After the excitement of seeing the Rose Parade and picking your favorite float, the floats that rolled proudly down Colorado Blvd. will be on display along Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards in Pasadena on Tuesday, January 3.
“Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase” features a two-mile array of Rose Parade floats following their appearance in the 134th Rose Parade.
Each year, nearly 70,000 visitors head to the display area for a chance to see the floats up close and to appreciate the creativity and detail of each display. They’re also able to engage with the float exhibitors, as well as with some of the volunteers who helped build the floats, in a family friendly celebratory environment.
Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes if you’re visiting, as there are no trams and seating is limited. To view all of the floats, you’ll need to walk about 2.5 miles at a leisurely pace, which could take at least two hours, according to the Tournament of Roses.
The venue, too, is often crowded, so it would be advisable that you plan ahead, especially if you’re in a group, so you can agree where you and the others would meet in case you get separated, the Tournament added.
In any case, there’s a Guest Services tent at the intersection of Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards which you can decide on as a re-assembly area.
A brochure containing a map of the Floatfest venue layout is also available at the gate entrances, as well as at all Park-N-Ride locations, which can be used for directions.
Water is available free-of-charge at three locations within the venue.
A limited number of food vendors will be at the venue. Visitors are welcome to bring small quantities of food and non-alcoholic drinks. No coolers are allowed.
For security, Floatfest organizers are recommending the use of clear bags to expedite entry. All strollers, backpacks, purses, bags and similar accessories are subject to search prior to entry into the display venue.
Skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, tricycles, Segways and wagons are not permitted. Using a stroller would also be difficult due to the terrain.
No animals, except service animals, will be permitted within the venue.
Parking near Floatfest is extremely limited, so the organizers have set up a free shuttle service for every ticketed guest, available from Pasadena City College to the venue and back. Shuttles will be departing every five minutes. Guests using shuttles will enter the event through a priority line.
Senior citizens and visitors with disabilities have shuttles reserved from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, and everyone else can ride from 8:30 a.m. Final departure on Tuesday is at 2:30 p.m. Masks are optional, the organizers said.
Tickets can be purchased online from www.sharpseating.com or by calling (626) 795-4174.
For more information, visit www.tournamentofroses.com/event/floatfest.
