How long does the parade last?
- 2 1/2 hours from any given point.
What time does the parade start?
Where does the parade start?
- Ellis Street & Orange Grove. It then continues North on Orange Grove then East on Colorado Blvd. to Sierra Madre Blvd., then north on Sierra Madre Blvd. to Paloma Street – a total of 5 1/2 miles. See map
How soon can I arrive?
- Curbside camping on the parade route is allowed beginning at noon the day before the parade.
What are the rules and regulations along the Parade route?
- For information about rules and regulations along the Rose Parade route call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4598 or visit their website. Following are some of the rules all spectators should know:
- Grandstand ticket holders will not be allowed to bring backpacks, coolers or large bags.
- There is a curfew law for those under 18 in effect from 10 pm to 5am. There must be a parent of guardian present.
- No public, curbside parade viewing on Orange Grove Blvd. from Del Rosa to Colorado Blvd. and on Colorado from Orange Grove to Terrace. Grandstand ticket holders only.
- Overnight camping is permitted only on the night before the parade. Do not arrive before noon the day before the parade.
- All persons and property such as blankets, chairs, etc., must remain on the curb until 11 p.m. on the night before the parade. At that time spectators may move out to the blue honor line.
- Small, professionally manufactured barbeques elevated at least one foot off the ground are allowed on the parade route.
- Do not bring tents, sofas, ladders, scaffolding and boxes of any type.
- Unoccupied chairs are not allowed.
- Bonfires are strictly prohibited.
- No items may be sold along the parade route without a permit.
- No public areas (sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streets) may be cordoned or roped off.
- Throwing any item onto the parade route is prohibited.
- Vehicles obstructing emergency lanes will be towed.
- Walking in the street is not permitted.
What exactly is the Tournament of Roses Association?
- The Tournament of Roses Association was started in 1890 by the Valley Hunt Club and became a separate organization just five years later.
- It is now a public, non-profit, volunteer-driven corporation headquartered at the former Wrigley Mansion in Pasadena.
- A small full-time staff works with the volunteer members year-round to bring the Parade and Game to a worldwide audience.
- More info
Why was the Rose Parade started?
- To celebrate California's mild winter climate, the Tournament's founders and Valley Hunt Club members, Dr. Francis Rowland and Prof. Charles Holder, created a floral festival in 1890 patterned after the "Battle of the Flowers" in Nice, France.
- It was initially a modest procession of flower-covered carriages with afternoon "games" including foot races, tug-of-war contests and sack races.
Who owns the Tournament House and the Wrigley Gardens?
- The house and grounds, totaling 4 1/2 acres, were presented to the city of Pasadena by family heirs of Chicago chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley Jr.
- The gift was formally received by the city in 1959 with the understanding that it would be the permanent headquarters of the Tournament of Roses.
- The entire 4 1/2-acre facility is maintained by the Tournament of Roses Association.
- More info
What is the Tournament's relationship with the city of Pasadena and the local community?
- The Tournament is independent of the city of Pasadena, but could not accomplish these events without a strong working relationship with the city.
- Each year, the Tournament directly pays the city of Pasadena almost $1.2 million to cover the cost of services provided to support the events.
- In addition, the city earns additional revenue from other fees and taxes, enabling the community to support this tremendous undertaking without diverting resources from other needed programs.
- The six hours of live worldwide television coverage from Pasadena each year is a priceless public relations benefit for the area.
- Each year the Tournament of Roses Foundation gives $100,000 to community programs throughout the Pasadena area - totaling more than $1.5 million since its inception in 1983.
Who is the Tournament of Roses audience?
- Approximately 40 million Americans watch the Rose Parade on TV, as well as millions of international viewers in 150 territories around the world. The combined total HH ratings for the live and the various rebroadcasts of the 2006 Rose Parade was 15 or approximately 16.5 million households.
- The Pasadena Police Department annually estimates that approximately one million people attend the Rose Parade each year.
- The 2006 Rose Bowl Game produced a total TV audience of 68.5 million in the U.S. and received a rating of 21.7 for a share of 35.
- The Rose Bowl Game is a contractual sellout. In 2006, attendance was 93,986.
- Over the past three years, an average of 70,000 people visited the Post Parade Float Viewing in the 2½ days following the Rose Parade.
How can I watch the festivities?
- You do not need tickets to the Rose Parade unless you are looking for a grandstand seat. The official seating company, Sharp Seating, can be contacted at (626) 795-4171.
- In addition, the Rose Parade is broadcast live by nine networks: ABC, NBC, HGTV, Tribune, Univision, Telemundo, Travel Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Sky Link TV.
What are the criteria for building a float?
- Each float must conform to certain regulations in the areas of height, width, length and thematic design and the entire surface must be covered using a variety of flowers, seeds, bark, leaves and other natural materials.
- Most floats are controlled with the aid of internal, computer-driven hydraulics and are entered in the parade on behalf of a corporation, city, or organization.
Why are the Tournament celebrations sometimes held on January 2?
- The Tournament of Roses is a tradition full of traditions, one of which is our “Never on Sunday” policy. In 1893, officials decided to move the parade to Monday, January 2 to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and thus interfering with worship services. As a result of this reverent gesture, speculation abounds as to the rare instances of rainfall on New Year’s Day (only ten times in Rose Parade history), prompting some to ask the Tournament about its special pact with a “friend upstairs.” Also as a result of this tradition, other collegiate bowl organizations have instituted similar procedures.
Who are the people in the white suits and what do they do?
- The life blood of the Tournament is its 935 active volunteer members - the "white-suiters."
- These volunteers are assigned to one of 32 committees and collectively spend more than 80,000 hours planning and executing every facet of the Tournament of Roses.
- Members are men and women of all ethnic backgrounds from all walks of life who live or work in a fifteen-mile radius of Pasadena's city hall and who are willing to devote the necessary time and energy.
- Responsibilities range from selecting the Parade's participants and directing visitors on New Year's morning to serving hamburgers to band members at the Parade's end or giving presentations about the Tournament to community groups.
- More info
How does one become a white-suiter?
- Membership is open to any community-minded individual who lives or works within a 15-mile radius of Pasadena. Members must be at least 24 years old and be willing to attend committee meetings and devote a minimum of 30 volunteer service hours, though most members far exceed that requirement.
What is the Tournament of Roses economic Impact?
- The UCLA Anderson School conducted an independent economic impact study on the 2005 Tournament of Roses events with the following key results:
$208.1 million in direct expenditures and $370.3 million in total economic impact to Southern California.
Who can be a member of the Royal Court and how are they chosen?
- The Rose Queen® and Rose Princesses have presided over the annual celebration each year since 1930. During their reign, they will make numerous social and media appearances - serving as goodwill ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses Association. Each September, hundreds of local young women between the ages of 17 and 21 participate in the month-long selection process to become a member of the Royal Court. Participants are evaluated on a number of qualities including poise, academic achievement, public speaking ability and community involvement.
- More info
How is the Grand Marshal chosen and who are some of the past honorees?
- The annual naming of the Grand Marshal is a traditional duty of the president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. The Rose Parade has had some of the world's most distinguished individuals serving as Grand Marshal. Past honorees have been actors, astronauts, writers, artists, athletes and political figures. Mary Pickford, Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Hope, Kate Smith, Walt Disney, Shirley Temple Black, Bob Newhart, Angela Lansbury, Tom Brokaw and Bill Cosby are just a few of the famous personalities who have held the venerable position.
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