Rose Parade Route

The Los Angeles Rose Parade is finally crossed off my bucket list.
It was nothing like the horrifying stories I have heard in the past of the crazy crowds, killer traffic, camping out in the freezing cold or you’re stuck with no view of the parade. I want tell everyone out there interested in watching this parade live that the stories are only for those who arrive late. My family arrived 2 hours prior to the start of the parade half way down the parade route. In all honesty this was my first rodeo and a spur of the moment adventure so we just rolled with it. We took snacks, drinks, chairs, and blankets but if you have a portable heater definitely a great idea. First off I used my google GPS and I bypassed the exit off of the freeway and went to the next off ramp. I crossed Colorado Street and parked randomly on a one Way Street that is located parallel to the parade route. I had pulled over to view my GPS because I had taken a different route and came to realize that I was parked 30 sec from the parade route near a Jack’s, Carl’s, and McDonalds. There was a porter potty almost around every corner and not in bad condition which is good for the miss’s. Then along the parade route the street spots were full but the curb was available almost every few feet. Breakfast options were available everywhere because of our prime spot and we stayed with our back to the sunrise so we could see the parade with no worries. We did notice that marshmallows and raw tortillas lined the streets so 12am must be a party but we just observed the aftermath. Of course we enjoyed the parade but by the last few floats my boys were done watching and ready to go. We saw the whole thing walked to the car and left into the city away from the route and the freeway. So for me it was easy in and easy out with a great experience but no plans of going back because we are not big on parades but definitely glad we did it.

A great Pasadena tradition!
I’m not much of a parade person. I definitely would never sleep overnight along the parade route to snag a good spot. Noooo wayyyyy…
But I’m extremely fortunate to have friends who live a block away from the parade route and who are kind to invite my family every year to watch. Granted, their home is close to the end of the parade route, so by the time we view the floats, the tall parts are folded down. But that’s ok by me. Our friends set up chairs for us overnight and we get front row seats. They allow us to use their bathroom when needed. Their parade spots are not teeming with wall-​to-​wall people. It’s the perfect arrangement for someone like me who cherishes sleeping in, hates port-​a-​potties, and gets very cranky when it’s cold and crowded out:(
Nothing really needs to be said about the parade itself. The details in the floats are spectacular and being able to see everything up close is truly a special experience. I enjoy seeing the bands from other parts of the country (Hawaii, Georgia, Wyoming, etc.) and from other countries (i.e., Japan). I can imagine how thrilling it must be to perform in the most famous parade in the world. All the parade-​goers are in a great mood. It’s a positive way to start to the new year.
This year, we got to see several anti-​Trump messages in the sky above the parade. I thought they were hysterical. «Trump is delusional» was my favorite. Also got to see the infamous Stanford band before their mischief at the Rose Bowl game.
It was comforting to see many police officers patrolling the crowd, more so than last year. Given all the crazy things happening in the world these days, I’m grateful the City of Pasadena was well-​prepared.
A good time for all… Happy New Year everyone!

Happy New Year!!! There’s no better way to ring in 2016 than sitting VIP to the world’s most beautiful parade.

The Rose Parade is epic! I’m giving 5 stars for the parade itself and for the general overall wonderful experience we had. However for overnight sidewalk campers and bleacher holders, I have some recommendations/​critiques.
First, there are several ways to experience the Rose Parade.
1. At home on TV. (this has been my option most of the time). I’ve visited the parade 3x total in person.
2. Buy tickets for bleachers located right at the beginning of the parade route. The upside to bleachers are you have guaranteed seats. The downside is they are costly at least $ 95 per ticket and you’re paying that much for a little space on cold hard bleachers.
3. You can camp out overnight on the sidewalk of Colorado Blvd. This guarantees you a front row seat for free. This is what our family did this year! I’ll go into more detail on this.
4. You can show up at 4am and find a kind group of people who camped to share their spot.
PARKING is ridiculous!
No matter which option you choose, if you see the parade live and in person, you will have to deal with parking. Pasadena requires you get a parking permit to park on most city streets.
You should visit the city of Pasadena Rose Parade website prior to heading over in your vehicle. They have a comprehensive list of parking areas and requirements.
SO HERE is the information I WISH we had before setting out on our urban camping experience!
1. Setting up camp on the sidewalk of Colorado Blvd. The website says noon. That’s NOT the case. People start using sidewalk chalk as early as 5am on ¹²⁄₃₁ to section off their spots. The code enforcement and other people honor this. So bring some chalk and get there as early as possible.
2. Where to set up? First of all the south side of Colorado is more coveted because the sun is not in your face while you sit there all day both the day before and the day of the parade. We were lucky enough to get a south side spot.
2. What do you bring? We had kids who needed to sleep so we brought sleeping bags and camping mats. I recommend a tarp to set down. The gutter is flowing with water and yes, it is a street after all.
There are minimalists who bring chairs, a few snacks and a blanket. That way when the parade is over they pick up their things and leave.
Then there are the luxurists, these people bring self generated air mattresses and everything but the kitchen sink. Our family was in the middle. We brought a cooler, mini BBQ, snacks and sleeping bags and an umbrella. They are very strict on certain rules. One rule is the NO TENT rule. Don’t bother bringing a tent. They’re not allowed. They did allow an oversized umbrella which we slept under.
Finally, if you don’t mind crowds or being on TV you will want to find a spot between the bleachers and up about 4 blocks. These are the most lively spots and news reporters go up and down this stretch looking for campers to interview.
Bathrooms are an issue! The Pasadena website says there are plenty of portable toilets but there are NOT. The Starbucks and Fridas Tacos were both nice about using the bathroom so long as you buy something. We ate dinner at Fridas, they were delicious (another review) & the folks at Starbucks were also very friendly.
If you want a quieter experience, find a campsite farther away from the beginning of the parade route.
It gets very cold. So whatever you bring with you make sure it’s warm. Layer up and make sure you have time the next day to rest. No matter where you are on the parade route, if you’re camping out, you probably won’t sleep much.
We met some great people and made friends everywhere.
My only complaint was the woman Employee 3090 who wouldn’t let us walk across the street to use a restroom. She was rude and had just let other people go through but decided to enforce her rules only on certain people, not everyone. That was not cool. She expected us to walk all the way around rather than allowing us to cross over at Mill Street.
OVERALL, WE HAD A BLAST! Welcome 2016! Our front row seats were amazing. The floats and bands and equestrian shows were all amazing!

This review is a bit biased, because as a kid living on the East Coast & Midwest watching the Rose Bowl Parade every year, I always wanted to go.
This year, I had a great hook-​up, my sister’s boyfriend sells seats on the parade route, so we got primo front row seats on the parade route without camping out. Also, he provided coffee, personal bathroom and snacks. Yay!
Despite it being 8am (having just slept a couple of hours) and one of the coldest mornings (28 degrees when we woke up), it was a blast! I had 3 teenagers in tow (ages 15 – 17) which is a tough crowd and they had a great time.
Highly recommend watching this parade at least once in your life.

I am kinda spoiled when it comes to this parade… my aunt has a house a few blocks away! I have been coming to this parade (not every year) since I was super young — like 6 years old and I am… well. never mind!
I have camped on the street in my late teenage years and had too much fun at night and slept through the parade … except for those «pesky» bands that wake you up… lol… good memories but NOW attending with my kids — it’s even more special.
MY FAVORITE thing is walking through the floats as they are staged the night before. People are excited, friendly and we all do the countdown in the street and hug everyone around you!!! You get sneak peeks… and inside info… like the cast that was going to be there for the Bachelor float… if you are in to the Bachelor… not me (hehehe)
My aunt super blessed us this year and bought us tickets at the starting line right below the HGTV booth! Who hoo! Awesome seats. Just note — the exhaust for all the generators is nauseating… but it’s only 2 hours… and I have ruined myself way worse back in the day smoking…
The Property Brothers were throwing out the roses from the display after the parade and I GOT ONE! YAY! Then as I was trying to post my photo for my friends… I almost missed them walking down the bleachers where I was! So I hurried to catch Jonathan Scott and oooppsss. fell on him… I am such a super DORK! sigh…
Age recommendations: my 4 and 6 year old were semi-​ready to leave when it was a little over an hour into it… My Aunt hooked up babysitting for our 19 month old!
Hotdogs wrapped in smokey salty bacon — smelled amazing and cost $ 5 each — I didn’t get one but wished I had cash-​ola on me…
Oh and back in 2007 when George Lucas was the Grand Marshal — my husband was on crutches — we had the BEST seats in the house! The Rose Parade really takes care of the disabled and gives ample space for unobstructed, prime seating — curbside viewing!
I actually got to talk with George Lucas and ask him for his autograph on a Storm Trooper Toy — he held it in his hand, contemplated, and then said, «maybe later.» Really… still waiting… what a punk! One stinkin signature — for our collection… lame! Glad Disney is in charge now…
The Parade is awesome! BUCKET List… revisited again and again! Oh and we do notice when the New Year falls on a weekday — it’s not as flashy busy as on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. That might help for planning your trip!

LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!!
My first experience was this year 2015, and it was AMAZING. We opted to purchase bleacher seats in lieu of the whole camping out over night (Thank goodness, since it was 34 F degrees when we arrived). Parking was a breeze, we probably walked half a mile or so but that was to be expected. It is so great to see the floats live and in person, and see all the happy people who worked so hard to get this parade going. The crowd around us was so cheerful and excited, and everyone was having a blast.
The only thing I missed from watching it on TV is Bob & Stephanie’s commentary, they do a great job of providing all the lovely details of the people on the floats, what the floats are made of and what they represent.
CHEERS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year, my fellow Unilocalers.
My first 2015 review !
#001/​100 Unilocal 2015 Challenge
This is my second time watching the rose parade, I when here last year and the line and crowd isn’t as bad as I though.
You don’t need to camp or come too early here, unless you wanted reserve for a big group and get the best viewing spot. If you going come late, I suggest go for near the end route like Sierra Madre. There’s fewer people in the end route than in the startup and the float will take longer time to get there like after 9pm. That give you extra a hour of sleep if you party too high the night before or when to countdown.
This year floats wasn’t as impressive as last year and doesn’t had many one that wow me. The parade now is mix with large group of Christian and military presentation. In the end is wrap up buy army of big towing truck that make annoying horn sound.
The parade is free and you get the whole package with live band and peoples, the pre and post float view don’t get neither one and cost $ 10. If you are local resident, then there’s no excuse for you to come out and see a least once in your lifetime. Some people travel across the country and even oversea just to get here.

Went to see this live 1÷1÷2015 as it is on wife’s bucket list. We sat in freezing cold ticketed metal bleacher stands. Wife got coffee spilled on her since the organizers like to pack every one in tightly. Seating spot maybe 18″ wide per person and I am not a linebacker size body. Well, with cost of seats, program, transportation and lodging, I think it is better on TV. We only did this once to mark it off of things to do. Also this year looked like only 80 floats whereas in the past there seem to be 100 floats.

Ticket: $ 95 grandstand seat (Area One)
Parking: Average $ 30
Parade program: $ 10
Yes, it seems very pricey; however, the experience is unbelievable. The excitement that I could never get from watching TV. Definitely want to do this once in my life time.
Parade starts at 8am; they suggest you arrive by 6am. Finding parking structures can be challenging since many streets are blocked. Wear comfortable shoes, because lots of walking!
It is very cold in the morning, wear layers! They allow food/​drinks, just not bottles. There are security check points. There provide portable restrooms too.
Overall, fantastic experience!!!

The Best Party of the Year!!! 23^rd consecutive year that we camp overnight to receive the New Year with 200,000 of our best friends. No sleep and cold are greatly overcompensated by the fun, revelry, entertainment, camaraderie, people watching and overall good times. Arguably ours is the best site in all the 11 miles (5.5 each side) of the route. We take with us 2 tables, 2 grills, one smoker, one patio heater, one butane floor heater, one chimney (yes a chimney), two inflatable sofas, inflatable beds, one large trash can (maybe the only one in all the route since the city removes anything that can be removed for the parade) and this year (2015) we will even be able to have power on our site (from a business on our back that we also use for parking and restroom). We have about 30 – 40 guests for the midnight party, 15 – 25 stay all night, and about 100 guests for the Parade itself. Safe at night (with reasonable precautions). I stake my place at 6am the 31^st (even when you can’t set up until Noon) but is the only way I can guarantee the same large spot every year. The Alexito’s Parade (aka Rose Parade) is the excuse for the all night party, but is worthy to stay to watch it, just even if it is only so the marching bands have someone to listen to them. Oh, Just remember not to mind Santa, be naughty, or you get bored.

If you are coming to the Rose Parade in Pasadena, bring your sense with you.
1. If you are going to sleep on Colorado Blvd to get a good seat, do us locals a favor and clean up after your self. We would like this event to continue to happen. The less issues the better the event gets.
2. Don’t spray silly string on the cars going past and don’t throw marshmellows.
3. Enjoy the parade and clean up after your self.

My last experience with the Rose Parade came in 2009 when USC played Penn State in the Rose Bowl game. Fast forward five years and now I’m a student at USC (a little foreshadowing maybe?)
Southern California’s biggest and world-​renowned New Year’s celebration down Colorado Blvd is one of the best free things you can do. My suggestion is that you bring lawn chairs and sit somewhere in Old Town (near the intersection of Colorado & Fair Oaks). The start of the parade (and the televised portion) is at the Norton Simon Museum at the intersection of Orange Grove & Colorado but unless you camp out, you’re probably not going to be able to find a spot there in the grandstands.
Bring a lawn chair and take the Metro Gold Line to the Memorial Park Station because you won’t find any parking. You’ll see some of the most amazing and intricate floats going down the street and it’s a whole lot of festive, free fun.

Wooo Hoooo! Finally the first time ever having the opportunity to visit the Rose Parade. What a great first time experience it was indeed. The beautiful floats, the bands, the horses, the people, the entertainment. All in all it was a blast!!! We had seats in the bleacher section right in front of the Citibank on Colorado Street. My only complaint is that it can be pretty uncomfortable especially with all those bodies around you and no arm movement especially when your next to a lot of people.
The crowd was great and the float were beautiful. Thankfully we had special arrangements with the Citibank to use their restroom if needed. Bring warm clothes and get ready for the crowds, it was crazyyyyy. I have to give props to the people who actually camp out to be a part of it. Those are the people that have the most fun unfortunately camping out in the street overnight is not my thing. :)
Just be ready to pay for parking and get there on time and try to leave on time, we left 30 mins prior to it ending because our child was getting restless and we didnt want to be stuck in traffic.
All in all it was a great experience and I hope to go back again soon. :)

First time living in Pasadena, and basically even hearing about rose parade since being in Cali, so I was pretty adamant about going to see the rose parade. I mean, i’m only a mile away, 20 min walk, how lazy do I have to tell people I am to not have gone right? :P
I didn’t quite make it right on time, but I arrived to the parade around 9:20 and there were still plenty of floats to look at. they were awe-​inspring and amazing! It’s pretty hard to believe that it’s all made of flowers, it makes you realize why people were crazy enough to spend the night in the cold. I wish that I was able to stay the whole time and to see when the floats did crazy little tricks, aka. the public storage… who da thunk!!! but sadly i saw that on tv instead of the real thing so makes me want to plan better next year.
If you haven’t seen this in person, I say it’s worth it to go watch it for a little bit, very entertaining.

If you’re looking to start your New Year off in a sea of humanity and about 5.5 miles of open road, look to the Rose Parade Route in Pasadena, CA. This is a great stretch of Colorado Blvd to take to with your bicycle or ten toes.
I forwent the Bandit Run that I originally had planned on doing at 430A which runs the route and instead slept in an extra hour and my boyfriend and I walked most of the route.
You certainly will not be alone. TONS of people have begun camping out along this route since 8A on NYE so there are people EVERYWHERE but surprisingly not a ton of people in the street because who the heck wants to lose their primo seat after securing it for 24 hours? Not those folks.
This is a great little stretch to get in a morning run, walk or bike ride without being an organized run you are still supplied with a plethora of spectators :) We were also able to see the awesome United States Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the parade route. Fun stuff!
There are plenty of sheriffs on traffic duty, K9’s, Pasadena Police and Tournament of Roses volunteers so while it may seem completely chaotic there is some sense of safety to it.
Plenty of people watching and a nice way to ring in the New Year in your community or as a visitor looking for a fun spot to enjoy your morning workout.

The Rose Parade is great! If you’re the kind of person who likes Disneyland, you’ll have a good time. And it doesn’t have to be some stressfull all-​night preparation. I took the gold line to Sierra Madre Villa station, and probably didn’t get to the parade route til around 10 and I still saw tons of amazing floats and bands. If I was going again, I would bring a chair because sometimes there is a bit of downtime between floats — though standing for 2 hours is manageable, if you’ve been out the night before it would be nice to have a spot to rest. Surprisingly, there aren’t many people walking around selling food — I think bacon-​wrapped hotdogs and cotton candy were all I saw. And the gold line was selling paper tickets so if you don’t have a TAP card and don’t want one, you can do that.

Great show that happens every New Years Morning here in Pasadena.
and the rest of the year, this is an over-​looked piece of history. enjoy it year-​round… not just during the madness of NYE. or the wee hours of morning New Years

this was my first rose parade and i had a great time! i arrived after the parade started, sometime after 9am. there was absolutely no traffic to pasadena at this time. however, they closed the main streets leading up to the parade. taking side streets, we parked in the paseo mall lot (for $ 22). minus one star for the hefty price tag.
the floats were beautiful, but my favorite parts were the marching bands! i was dancing in my place and waving like a maniac!
im curious as to how the city houses so many people in their hotels during this time each year. if anyone knows, please hit me up!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t on the parade route for pleasure, but rather I had to work. I saw people staking claims to prime real estate along Colorado Blvd. as early as noon on ¹²⁄₃₁. Most people I encountered were pretty cool, and excited about the parade. Bring warm clothes and prepare for porta-​potties. Don’t expect to go into the businesses and think they’ll let you take over their restrooms… ain’t gonna happen. If you’re crazy enough to camp out on the street, ya better prepare to go «caveman»!
My advice: Camp out around Sierra Madre and Colorado near the Vons. You can get good food and escape the cold in their warm Starbucks seating area.