Tournament of Roses - Tips for Watching the Rose Bowl Parade

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New Year’s Day is notable for different things, depending on the person. A bunch of us nurse hangovers from late-night New Year’s Eve parties. The more sentimental among us reflect on the past years events and memories. And many, many Americans watch the Tournament of Roses on TV, right before the Rose Bowl game. If part of your New Year’s Day plans include going to Pasadena and watching the parade in person, you might want to keep in mind these facts and tips about it.

Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day, in Pasadena, California

The Tournament of Roses has never been canceled due to rain, so chances are good that the weather will be perfect (or at least balmy) for the parade. Check Pasadena’s weather listings just in case.

Don’t bother arriving early in the week to somehow save a spot for your group or family. The whole area is is sealed off on December 30, and opens to the public at noon on December 31. Curbside camping is not only legal, it’s recommended.

By “camping,” I mean folding chairs and the like. No tents or ladders, and please - leave your couches at home.

The parade starts at 8:00 in the morning; early! This may be a painful wake-up for those of us who enjoyed celebrating the New Year at midnight.

The Rose Bowl Parade follows the same route every year. Starting on Ellis Street, the parade heads north on S. Orange Grove Boulevard. It then proceeds east on Colorado Boulevard, north on Sierra Madre Blvd., and ends at Paloma Street.

Colorado Blvd. is typically the most crowded street for parade-viewers; this street is also Pasadena’s main thoroughfare. This is also the longest stretch of the Rose Bowl Parade.

Here’s a tip for light-sensitive parade-viewers: Try to sit on the west side of the street for the parade route. The sun won’t get in your eyes (also bring sunglasses, like any tried-and-true Southern Californian).

The best place to try to get a good spot for the Tournament of Roses parade is early on in its route. I like the corner of Orange Grove and Colorado. If you plan ahead, buy grandstand seat tickets for this area. You’ll see camera crews here, interviewing the parade dignitaries and celebrities.

Do I need to say it? Don’t throw anything at the floats or the people on them. It’s not cool, and if you get caught, security will remove you.

No bonfires, of course, but small “hibachi” types of grills are just fine. Barbeques have to be raised a foot off the ground.

The Rose Bowl Parade lasts around 2 1/2 hours. Afterwards, the flower-covered floats head to Victory park (which is nearby). I recommend taking the time to see the floats up close here: The work that goes into them is really impressive. Come get a close up look at the millions of flowers, and listen to the float “artisans” talk about the creative process. It’s a nice memory to start off the New Year.

The floats stay in Victory Park for a couple of days after the parade, but there is a fee to get in and see them.

The Rose Bowl Game starts at around 2:00PM, Pacific Standard Time. This is a few hours after the parade ends, so there is time to go enjoy lunch with your family or group. Colorado Blvd. has many, many restaurants from which to choose, there surely will be at least one that everybody can agree on.

The Sharp Seating Company (626) 795-4171 sells tickets for the Tournament of Roses Parade. Tip: You can buy them starting February 1 of the preceding year! The most expensive grandstand seats come with the best views of the parade. These tickets sell out quickly. If you’re a victim of poor planning (or spontaneity), the Rose Bowl Parade seats may be all sold out. In this case, just watch the parade from the streets instead of the grandstands.

The Sharp Seating Company also provides reserved parade parking. Other parking services (this is worth it, it is a real mess trying to leave) are Ace Parking at (626) 577-8963, Easy Parking Service (626) 286-7576, and Southern California Tickets (626) 577-2557. Buy reserved parking tickets early.

Now, if you have the time or inclination to watch the floats get decorated before the parade, please do so. I recommend this; it’s surprising how much of an art form it is. It’s an all-volunteer cast of decorators, too; they get pride from their work, and knowing that its appreciated is a wonderful thing. The parade floats are arranged at four different locations:

  • Brookside Pavilion (west side of the Rose Bowl Stadium) at 1001 Rose Bowl Drive
  • Rose Palace at 835 S. Raymond Avenue
  • Rosemont Pavilion at 700 Seco Street
  • Buena Vista Pavilion (in Duarte, not Pasadena) at 2144 Buena Vist

Anyone can watch the Rose Bowl Parade on television. It’s a completely different experience to be there. Pasadena has shared this tradition with the world (or whoever watches TV anyway) for well over a hundred years. Being part of a happy group, seeing the amazing Tournament of Roses floats go by, and sharing the event with your friends and family is a great way to start off the New Year.

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December 15, 2008 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Travel News 

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27 Responses to “Tournament of Roses - Tips for Watching the Rose Bowl Parade”

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  1. Shilo Beedy says:
    December 15, 2008 at

    I hope to someday go and watch that parade. It would so great to see it in person.

  2. Kim says:
    December 15, 2008 at

    We got tickets from Sharps a few years ago, it’s a once in a lifetime experience, in that it’s terrific to see in person and odds are you’ll only want to do it once. Seeing the floats as they pass and listening to the bands live with all of the excitement in the crowd is great. But, you have to be in the parking garage at 6AM, so we got up at 4:30 (after a New Years Eve Party). There isn’t any food, which shocks me, food vendors would make a fortune. One Starbucks was open and the line was impossible. There were students selling boxes of peanut M&Ms so that’s what we had for breakfast. The next year, my adventurous family said “I’m so glad we’re watching this at home.”

    We’ve also visited the floats both before and after several times, they are works of art that are worth fighting the crowds to see up close.

  3. Nancy D. Brown says:
    December 15, 2008 at

    Great article. Thanks!

  4. Beth says:
    December 15, 2008 at

    This will be the first year in over 10 years, that I will not be working on decorating a float this year. Great Article.

  5. Hein says:
    December 15, 2008 at

    Great article. Are there portable toilets for those who do curbside camping? Thanks.

  6. yamgnos says:
    December 16, 2008 at

    That’s really paradise. I wish there ’s a day I could come there

  7. MountainMama says:
    December 16, 2008 at

    What’s with the storm troopers? Was there a Death Star float??

  8. MudslideMama says:
    December 16, 2008 at

    Yes, Mountain Mama! For the 2007 Rose Bowl Parade, there were all these Star Wars characters along with storm troopers. Darth Vader was NOT made out of pretty delicate little flowers, though.
    :)
    …And George Lucas was the Grand Marshall. It was really fun for those of us who are sort of sci-fi movie nerds.

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    December 16, 2008 at

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  10. MudslideMama says:
    December 16, 2008 at

    Hein - yes, there are Port-a-Potties. Good question (I always use the nearest Starbucks). Along the Rose Bowl Parade route, the portable toilets are right behind the grandstand seats.

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    December 16, 2008 at

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  12. Shyan'smamma says:
    December 29, 2008 at

    I plan on taking my girls to the parade, we will be watching curbside, can you tell me what spot would be the easiest to get to? And What time I should get there. I plan on leaving my house about 1 am and I live in Yucaipa about an hour or less away. Do you think we will be able to get a curbside seat?

  13. MudslideMama says:
    December 29, 2008 at

    I know where Yucaipa is - are you sure you want to get up and leave at 1:00 in the morning? I’d leave at maybe 4, get there around 4:45 AM. That way your kids won’t be too exhausted to enjoy the parade (and you too!) but you’ll still be able to get curbside viewing somewhere along Colorado Blvd.

    Colorado is the “main stretch” of the parade. The west side will be shadier, if that is important to you. Even if you end up somewhat near the end of the boulevard, the energy is contagious and everyone will be having a great New Year’s Day.

    I hope you have a fun time!

  14. Ina says:
    December 30, 2008 at

    Where do you go to see the floats the night before (is it the same places listed above? Raymond Ave. adn Seco? and is one of the sites really in Duarte?) and where do you park?

  15. roseparadelive says:
    December 31, 2008 at

    Just a quick note, I’ve been covering the Parade for years and I thought it would be neat to live stream parts of the Parade you don’t see on TV. Tonight I will be at the lineup and tomorrow morning I will interview as many people as I can while the Parade sets up. All of the video will be available at roseparadelive.com or follow me on twitter @roseparadelive. Parade Day I will be streaming live from Orange Grove and Colorado, “TV corner.” 8 a.m. sharp

  16. Patricia from Inland Empire says:
    December 31, 2008 at

    Great article! We have tickets to the Rose Bowl game tomorrow and are considering trying to catch some of the parade as well. Does anyone know, if we were to try to grab a curbside view near the corner of Orange and Colorado, would it then be walkable (both safety-wise and distance-wise) to get to the game at the Rose Bowl itself? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

  17. tony c. says:
    January 1, 2009 at

    Thanks for outlining the parade route, so I can avoid it, as I will be driving talent to broadcast from the Rose Bowl.

  18. Blouise Hobson says:
    January 1, 2009 at

    Which TV channel do you think has the best coverage? I’m definitely recording HGTV, but I can record one other channel. Travel Channel has a repeat later, so I’m recording that.

    My main other choices seem to be ABC and NBC. Opinions on best coverage????? I’d rather see floats than TV personalities.

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  21. MudslideMama says:
    January 1, 2009 at

    Bloise, I don’t know if it’s too late already, but when I watch the Rose Bowl, I always end up watching it on ABC. I don’t know why, though; the commentators on both NBC and ABC do the same sort of filler chatter throughout. Our local ABC team is pretty smart, though. :)

    Happy New Year!

  22. Blouise Hobson says:
    January 1, 2009 at

    Thanks, MudslideMama. I ended up recording NBC. Have not watched it yet (now watching the repeat on Travel Channel) Next year I’ll try to remember to do ABC.

  23. tess thackery says:
    January 1, 2009 at

    Is there a hotel along the parade route in which one can stay and watch the parade from a balcony. I imagine if such exists it would be expensive but as it is a once in a lifetime - might be worth it - I looked on-line but nothing came up

    Packages for the Parade are offerd but are for hotels in Long Beach or Los Angeles. There must be great old hotels in Pasednea. Can anyone suggest a hotel in which one could watch the parade from a room with a balcony?

  24. andreea says:
    January 5, 2009 at

    Hello there,very nice place
    :)

  25. Barbara Roll says:
    January 12, 2009 at

    We as a Family are planning to come and see the Rose Bowl Parade 1st Jan 10.
    Fropm London England
    My husband loves the marching bands, and its something that he has always wanted to do.
    We will be staying in a hotel hopefully on the route. Can you recomend a good hotel for us to stay and celebrate News Years Eve along with getting a good view of the parade?
    Thank you

  26. MudslideMama says:
    January 23, 2009 at

    Barbara,

    The short answer is, there are no hotels along the parade route. In fact, the closest hotel that I can find is a Quality Inn, and believe me, the term “Quality” there is suspect. I wouldn’t stay there.

    The long answer is, if you’re planning to be in Los Angeles for next year’s New Year’s Eve and Tournament of Roses Parade, you’ll be staying at a hotel somewhere other than on the parade route, so consider buying good seats early (as mentioned in the travel article). Reserved seating takes the pressure off of having to wake up very early to get a good view of the parade.

  27. Rick says:
    January 29, 2009 at

    I started looking and the only hotels I could find were 3. One right on E. Colorado and 2/3 down the route and two more about 3 streets before the turn to where they store the floats for the next couple of days for people to see close up. The quality, as mentioned before, may be in question. I am old enough to remember when the area was still pretty nice. Now live on the East coast and have not been for a lot of years. Anyone else knows of any places to stay on the route, please advise.

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