It happens every year around mid-December. That’s when I imagine what it would be like to be there in person. The vast blue sky with cottony white clouds floating by. Temperatures often in the high 50s. Sunshine radiating warmth onto the thousands of spectators bundled up, lining the 5 ½ mile stretch of Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. With the tall and mighty, green-leafed palm trees swaying gently in the breeze, all against the backdrop of the majestic San Gabriel Mountains. Ah – a picture-perfect day!
And in that beautiful setting today, at precisely 8:00 a.m. the Grand Marshal will officially kick it off. The event? Why the 135th Tournament of Roses Parade, of course! Or the Rose Parade, as it is often called. And for two exciting hours, millions of viewers from around the globe, just like me, will delight in the sights and sounds of this year’s theme “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language.”
Who doesn’t love a parade? Parades make people smile. They boost morale and bring communities together. So I always look forward to enjoying the first day of January, every new year, caught up in all the fanfare. The lively marching bands, the magnificent equestrian units, the royal Rose Queen and Court, and best of all, the procession of glorious floats thematically adorned with flowers! Vibrantly colored, creatively decorated, often with moving parts, these larger-than-life displays make me want to reach out and touch them and breathe in their lovely floral scents.
But alas, after I picture myself there, reality sets in. First, it’s the thought of staking out a viewing spot. We could drive to Pasadena the day before, find secure parking, queue up along the parade route starting at noon, and brave the great outdoors overnight in hopes of being up close enough to see the action. Or we could purchase a ticket, costing $75-$125 a piece, leave at 5:00 a.m. that day, to drive, park, and shuttle over to the grandstand to get a clear view. Hmm? The second reason I consider watching from home is that I’m not a crowd kind of person. Can you guess what this year’s attendance is estimated to be? Only 800,000 people! And third, without the broadcasters’ comments, how would I get to know the story behind each and every float and materials used, right down to the specific flowers, nuts, and berries covering every surface?
Although it may be a wonderful experience to actually be at the Rose Parade, it is not something I have been willing to take on, thus far. However eight years ago, the day after the parade, which just happens to be on my birthday, Robert told me to be ready to leave our house at 8:00 am. The only other instructions were to wear comfortable shoes and warm clothes. This led me to believe we’d be spending time outside, so I was game.
We drove an hour to the Pasadena City College where we parked and jumped aboard the Park ‘N Ride Shuttle. About fifteen minutes later we arrived at the main gate along Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards. That’s when it became clear what we were there for…Floatfest 2016!
From my journal: January 3, 2016, Newbury Park, California
“Had a great birthday! Went to the Rose Parade Float Viewing aka Floatfest– that was really fun! Saw them (the floats) on TV – but in person they smell so fresh and are amazingly beautiful…loved seeing them up close and personal! And we ran into Leslie and Fred – great to see them!”
No crowds, no lines, just a leisurely two-hour stroll along the 2 ½ mile viewing route, marveling at the details that went into every creation on display. One float that did a remarkable job depicting the 2016 “Find Your Adventure” theme was the 21-foot high and 55-foot long South Dakotan flatbed. It featured Native American icons made from yellow sunflowers and white roses, as well as buffalo grass and Indian corn. Rising from its center was a spectacular Mount Rushmore sculpture covered in grey Spanish moss. Another stunner was the Sweepstakes Award winning Marco Polo “East Meets West” dragon display by Singpoli. It stood 24-feet tall and was 100-feet long. Although it was not breathing fire as it did during the parade, it was impressive nonetheless. Covered in orange rinds, tiger lilies, white orchids, pink chrysanthemums, and yellow roses, it was as aromatic as it was visually appealing. I enjoyed all of the floats, but the one I liked best was the Kaiser Permanente’s “Helping Mother Nature Thrive” masterpiece. I was drawn to the 21-foot high mythical Mother Nature, her head adorned with a wreath of white flowers, monarch butterflies and bees, made from yellow straw, walnut shells, rice, pinecones, and white rose petals. Her arms stretched the entire 55-foot length of the vehicle. No wonder it won the coveted Grand Marshall Trophy!
Spending that morning viewing all the floats is something I will always remember. Truly a delight for all our senses, especially our eyes and noses! While I will most likely remain an armchair Rose Parade spectator, I will never forget seeing the floral sensations that day, all within arm’s reach. It may have been the next best thing to being at the parade, or maybe even better.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
May 2024 bring you much joy, love, and laughter.
A Journal Journey 