Key Takeaways
- The 137th Rose Parade took place on a rainy day in Pasadena, with some hard-core fans camping overnight along the route despite the wet weather.
- This year’s parade is the first in 20 years to take place in the rain, with only 10% of all New Year’s Days between 1878 and 2025 experiencing rain in the Los Angeles area.
- The parade organizers had prepared for different weather scenarios and had a meteorologist present during the event, with volunteers and personnel on hand to assist if needed.
- The Tournament of Roses provided over 1,000 free grandstand tickets for fire victims to view the parade, which took place days before the one-year anniversary of the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires.
- The parade was live-streamed on TikTok for the first time, inviting a new generation of fans to experience the event from a fresh perspective.
Introduction to the Rose Parade
The 137th Rose Parade took place on a rainy day in Pasadena, with thousands of spectators gathering to watch the event despite the wet weather. Michael Brooks, a 41-year-old Monterey Park resident, was among those who braved the rain to attend the parade, which he said was a first for him. Brooks manned a clutch of lawn chairs and hunched beneath a daisy-printed umbrella as he guarded his family’s front-row seats, clutching a cup of hot chocolate to keep warm.
Rainy Weather Conditions
The storm system had already dumped 1.12 inches of rain on eastern Pasadena over the last two days, according to the National Weather Service, with Downtown Los Angeles receiving 0.94 inches. The Weather Service predicted that rain with a chance of thunderstorms would continue throughout the morning, but parade organizers were prepared for the wet weather. Lisa Derderian, a spokeswoman for the City of Pasadena, said that parade organizers had prepared responses to different weather scenarios and would have a meteorologist present during the parade.
Parade Attendees and Their Experiences
Despite the rain, many parade attendees were in high spirits, with some even enjoying the novelty of a rainy Rose Parade. Roni Jones and her mother, Cheryl Conley, of Altadena, said they fondly remembered the last time it rained on the parade in 2006. The women, who were proud graduates of John Muir High School in Pasadena, said that the parade was a bright spot after a difficult year, with Conley having lost her longtime house in the Eaton fire. The parade was expected to last around two hours, with roads along the parade route set to reopen by 2 p.m. Thursday.
History of the Rose Parade
The Rose Parade started in 1890 as a promotional event by the Valley Hunt Club, a social organization, to show off Pasadena’s famously mild winter weather. The earliest "floats" were horse-drawn carriages adorned with flowers, and the parade has since grown to become one of the most popular events in the United States. The last time it rained during the parade was in 2006, and that was only the 10th time in the event’s history. This year’s parade theme was "The Magic in Teamwork," and the parade marshal was Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the Los Angeles Lakers legend and billionaire businessman.
Special Accommodations and New Developments
The Tournament of Roses provided more than 1,000 free grandstand tickets for fire victims to view the parade, which took place days before the one-year anniversary of the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires. The parade was also live-streamed on TikTok for the first time, inviting a new generation of fans to experience the event from a fresh perspective. Mark Leavens, president of the Tournament of Roses, said that the organization was thrilled to invite a new generation of parade fans to experience the magic of the Rose Parade from a fresh, creator-led lens.
Practical Considerations and Preparations
Local officials were anticipating more calls for hypothermia and foot injuries from marching along the 5.5-mile route in wet socks. Derderian said that parade organizers had prepared for the wet weather and had a plan in place to respond to any emergencies that might arise. Some spectators found clever ways of keeping dry, with Jeff Landis of Glendale fashioning two heavy-duty trash bags as a hydrophobic layer for his two children. The parade organizers and attendees alike were prepared for a fun and memorable event, despite the rainy weather.