In the spirit of the theme, Passport to the World’s Celebrations, the 119th Rose Parade was led by Grand Marshal Emeril Laggasse on Tuesday, January 1, 2008. The festivities kicked off with an explosive opening show featuring dancers and flags from around the world and culminated, for the first time, with a flyover by Navy F18 hornets. Outwalkers representing various countries and cultures entertained crowds as the floats transformed before people’s eyes. The international array of bands and equestrians amused the viewers with their display of talent and dedication.
The 94th Rose Bowl Game hosted the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the University of Southern California Trojans in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10 match-up. The Trojans were victorious over the Illini with a 49-17 final score in The Granddaddy of Them All.