Pasadena’s Rose Parade is a fun New Year’s Day tradition celebrated since 1890. Each year, the Rose Parade features an unbelievable display of floats, marching bands, and equestrian units decorated with flowers and other natural materials.
If you plan a trip to Pasadena to decorate floats or watch the Rose Parade, we’ve listed our best tips for you to have a great time without spending much of your hard-earned money.
Where to watch the Rose Bowl Parade
Watch the Rose Parade from the Orange Grove Grandstands
The best place to watch the Rose Parade in Pasadena is the grandstands on Orange Grove Blvd (on Millionaire Row). The grandstand is the best area before the TV broadcast area at the corner of Colorado and Orange Grove. Sit in this area, and you’ll see the floats, bands, and equestrian units up close while they are focused, more alert, less tired, and excited.
Watch the Rose Parade from the Colorado Blvd Grandstands
Colorado Grandstands, located within the first half mile of the Rose Parade route, is another great place to view the parade. The Rose Bowl parade route is 5.5 miles long and runs along Colorado Boulevard from Orange Grove to Sierra Madre.
Watch the Rose Parade from Colorado Blvd
Camp out overnight along the Colorado Blvd Rose Parade route to secure a free space on the street to view the parade. Camping out overnight is a popular tradition for locals and visitors who don’t want to buy a ticket for the grandstands.
Sidewalk areas along Colorado Blvd start to fill up around 9 am on December 30th. Camping on Pasadena’s portion of Route 66 is a fun thing to do.
Decorate Rose Parade Floats
The easiest way to participate in the Rose Parade is to help decorate the floats at one of the volunteer float stations.
Decorate Rose Parade Floats: where and how?
Float decorating occurs a few nights before the parade and is open to the public. Volunteers can sign up in advance through the Tournament of Roses website. Float decorating volunteers work alongside professional float decorators to add the finishing touches to the floats.
Rose Bowl float decorating FAQs
- Float decorating takes place from December 28th through December 31st, with different shifts available throughout the day.
- The float decorating occurs at various locations throughout Pasadena, including the Rosemont Pavilion, the Brookside Pavilion, and the Rose Palace.
- Volunteers can sign up in advance through the Tournament of Roses website; no experience is necessary to participate.
- When you arrive at the float-decorating location, you’ll be given instructions on how to decorate the float and all the necessary materials.
- You’ll work alongside professional float decorators who will guide you through the process and help you create a beautiful and unique float.
View Rose Parade floats before the parade.
Rose Parade floats are held in staging areas located throughout Pasadena the night before the parade. Pasadena’s Rosemont Pavilion is one of the best places to view floats the night before the parade. The Rosemont Pavilion is located across from the Rose Bowl. Here, visitors can watch as the final touches are added to the floats before they go down the parade route.
Where should I buy my Rose Parade Seats?
Buy Rose Parade seats within the first half mile of the parade route
If you’re planning to attend the Rose Parade, it’s important to consider where you’ll be watching from. While any spot along the parade route offers a great view of the floats, bands, and equestrian units, there are some advantages to viewing the parade within the first half mile.
Equestrian units are fresh and cooperative.
A big benefit of buying parade seats within the first half mile is that the equestrian units are fresh and cooperative. Equestrians are a fun part of the Rose Bowl parade. However, they require a lot of energy and focus from their riders. By watching the parade in the first half mile, you’ll be able to see the horses before they have walked a long way and are most cooperative.
Marching bands have fresh legs.
Another benefit of watching the Rose Bowl parade in the first half mile is that the bands have fresh legs. The marching bands require much physical stamina to carry their instrument, march in step, and remain focused.
Fewer mechanical issues with floats
Finally, watching the Rose Bowl parade in the first half mile can help you avoid experiencing some of the logistical issues that can arise later in the parade. For example, the cars that power the floats can sometimes experience mechanical problems or break down as the parade continues. Also, sometimes, the mechanics of the float malfunction and stop working
What to do after watching the Rose Parade?
After watching the Rose Parade in Pasadena, explore Pasadena by foot and enjoy Pasadena’s museums as well as cultural, historical, and outdoor experiences. We have a list of things to do.
