The Tournament of Roses Parade is an American New Year’s tradition, a festival of elaborate, flower-covered floats, marchingbands, and more held in Pasadena, California, every January 1st. You’ve watched the pageantry and beauty of the parade on television—isn’t it time you saw the floats in person?
One hundred thirty years ago, the first Rose Parade was held on January 1, 1890. Back when it all began, the Rose Parade was a way for privileged families to show off their new home in California to friends and family back East. The parade route was help along what was known as Millionaire’s Row, where their palatial homes were on full display.
Professor Charles F. Holder, a member of the exclusive Valley Hunt Club where many privileged families were members, once wrote, “In New York, people are buried in snow. Here our flowers are blooming, and our oranges are about to bear. Let’s hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise.”
The first parade featured simple carriages covered in flowers and a queen elected by the student body of the local high school. Today, there are 100-foot floats with live animation and special effects. However, true to its beginnings, each float in the parade must still be covered entirely of organic material, and the weather in Pasadena remains something worth bragging about to all of your friends and family.
If you and your loved ones want to visit this year’s, 131st Rose Parade, here is what you can expect:
• 2020’s parade takes place on Tuesday, January 1st,
2020, from 8 AM to 12 PM
• The parade takes 2 ½ hours to cover the 5 ½ mile long route down Colorado Boulevard, come rain or come shine.
• The average temperature range is 50° F to 68° F. The mornings usually warm up around 10 AM, but until then, layer up, enjoy a warm drink
• The Rose Parade starts at 8 AM PST sharp, with ABC’s coverage beginning at 8 AM PST/11 AM EST, and NBC’s programming starting at 8:30 AM PST/11:30 AM EST.
• The parade’s American television audience is 50 million, with 30 million international viewers.
• You should be seated by 7:00 AM if you’re at the start of the parade west of Fair Oaks Ave. Otherwise, be at your seat by 8 AM. Regardless of where you are seated, plan to arrive in the area at least two hours prior.
You can see the Queen of the Tournament of Roses for yourself this January 1st as the parade once again makes its way down Colorado Boulevard. Each YMT Vacations journey to the Rose Parade features a behind-the-scenes tour of the float building pavilion and an exclusive dinner with a presentation by the Tournament of Roses Committee White Suiters. Guests also enjoy grandstand seating at an ideal location along the parade route.
YMT Vacations has been taking guests to the Rose Parade for over 45 years and they offer multiple ways to enhance the experience by combining it with other destinations. All vacations include a tour of Los Angeles, plus you can add an up-close viewing of the floats after the parade, a guided tour of the Grand Canyon with a stop in exciting Las Vegas, or take a tour up the California Coast to San Francisco. Alternatively take in the sights of the parade and then escape winter with a relaxing cruise along the Mexican Riviera.
Celebrate the next Tournament of Roses Parade the way it was intended to be experienced—in Pasadena!
For information, or to make your reservations, call your travel agent or YMT Vacations at 1-888-702-9497 visit www.ymtvacations.com