The Brief

The Turkish ambassador to the US was met by several dozen protesters on the USC campus Friday where he was attending a conference on Turkish foreign policy. The timing of the event, which came in the aftermath of the Nagorno-Karabakh collapse, had been criticized ahead of time and some protesters expressed outrage that it went forward.

Last week, the historically Armenian ethnic enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh was overtaken by an Azerbaijan offensive. An estimated 93,000 Armenians, about 75% of the population, have since fled the region, which has been under intense pressure since 2016 when Azerbaijan tried to resolve its conflict with Armenia with force. In 2020, Turkey pledged full support behind Azerbaijan.

So far, dozens of Armenians have been reported dead in the conflict and at least 100 wounded.

A humanitarian corridor in the region.

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Shane Dimapanat

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for LAist

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About the ambassador's visit

Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan was at USC to attend a conference discussing the “Role Of Public Diplomacy In Turkish Foreign Policy.”

“It's the ambassador of Turkey on this campus preaching about [the] successes of Turkish public diplomacy. And this is not a laughable matter for us as Armenians,” said Gegham Mughnetsyan, archivist at USC Institute of Armenian Studies.

It was held at USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, where the perimeter was monitored and blockaded by the LAPD and USC’s Department of Public Safety during Mercan’s visit. A few protesters slammed their hands on the doors of the school and distributed papers accusing the ambassador of supporting the “murder of Armenian children.”

A fraught and tragic history

The history between Turkey and Armenians is fraught. In 2021, after decades of advocacy by the Armenian community, the US government acknowledged the mass killing and deportation of an estimated one million Armenians in Turkey in 1915 as genocide.

Dr. Shushan Karapetian, who runs the Institute for Armenian Studies at USC, said that they had tried to get the event canceled or moved.

“At least postpone it a few weeks,” Karapetian said in her office at the institute. “We said this is a moment of high sensitivity and trauma for this community."

Karapetian called Armenians an integral part of L.A., which has the largest Armenian populations outside Armenia, more than 200,000 people. USC has at least 1,000 Armenian students and faculty, according to the USC Armenian Student Association.

"There are buildings named after Armenian donors, named after Armenian faculty, deans and so on,” Karapetian said. “So for us, it was an issue of timing and an issue of sensitivity and recognition of this massive collective trauma our community is going through.”

What student protesters had to say

For their part, some student protesters questioned why more Armenian students were not admitted to the closed event.

“We are just peacefully protesting and we have the right to protest. So I don't know why there are so much police and barricades,” said Lilia Margaryan, a student born in Armenia who attended the protest.

Lilia Hovsepyan continued: “I think it was very disrespectful of USC as an institute that has such a large Armenian population to host an event on foreign policy because for us Turkey’s foreign policy is genocidal policy.”

USC's response

In response to protests, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism released a statement:

“We recognize and understand that the USC Armenian Students’ Association has objections to this event. The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism believes that the freedom to express one’s views are at the foundation of what it means to be part of a research university. These freedoms are outlined within the USC Policy on Free Speech, and apply to all members of our community."

They continue:

“We sometimes profoundly disagree with statements of faculty, invited speakers, or other students; such disagreement and critical analysis occur regularly at our university, and we are committed to ensuring that our environment encourages and protects robust debate and inquiry.”

In response to the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh, Dr. Carol Folt, president of University of Southern California, released a statement Thursday.: “Our hearts go out to the people in Nagorno-Karabakh and those impacted by this grave humanitarian crisis; @ArmenianCenter continues to educate our community about the historical context. Many on our campus are hurting and may be in need of support.”

Mercat left the building in a DPS car amid shouts from protesters.

Bandfest is an opportunity to see marching bands from around the country — and Mexico and Japan — before their 2026 Rose Parade performance.

“This is the granddaddy of them all,” Tournament of Roses Honor Band Director Peter Huerta said of playing in the parade. “It is viewed all around the world. Everybody is watching you. Every little detail has to be perfect.”

Adriana Del Toro lined up outside Pasadena City College’s Robinson Stadium on Monday to watch her niece play the trumpet in the Los Angeles Unified School District All-District High School Honor Band.

“I'm living my childhood dream through her,” Del Toro said. ”When I was in high school, I always wanted to try out for a band, but I never did it because I was too shy. So I told her, as long as I can, I'm going to be here and support her.”

Some performances incorporated the 2026 Rose Parade theme, “The Magic in Teamwork.”

For example, the Tournament of Roses Honor Band’s performance includes the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends” and High School Musical’s “We’re All in This Together.”

The Pasadena City College marching band and musicians from 62 local high schools make up the ensemble.

The 250-member Tournament of Roses Honor Band includes the Pasadena City College marching band and musicians from 62 local high schools.

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Mariana Dale

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LAist

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Drum Major Orlando Garcia said the teamwork theme makes him remember the smoky skies and power outages that followed January’s wildfires.

“We can come together and make great music,” Garcia said of his bandmates, students from Pasadena City College and local high schools. “Just as we always come together and get through everything.”

The Rose Parade is right around the corner, and thousands of people are already preparing to flock to Pasadena for the New Year’s Day festivities.

In its 137th year, the parade theme is “The Magic in Teamwork,” with Laker icon Earvin "Magic" Johnson as the Grand Marshal. It kicks off at 8 a.m.

Whether you’ll be camping out the night before, or heading over with blankets in tow in the early morning hours, keep in mind that the weather is currently forecast to be rainy. Yes, that's rare. If it does pour on the parade it will be the first time in 20 years and before that it had been 50 years since the last rainy parade day.

Here’s what you need to know this year.

Parade details and closures

The Rose Parade route lasts two hours, with its 5.5-mile journey starting at Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard.

The floats, bands, and horses will head north along Orange Grove at a slow but steady 2.5 mph pace before turning east onto Colorado Boulevard for a majority of the show. It’ll then head north onto Sierra Madre Boulevard, wrapping up at Villa Street.

Police and city officials will start closing off part of the route to cars as early as 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, through 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1.

That includes Colorado Boulevard from Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard, and Sierra Madre Boulevard to Paloma Street. So if you’ll be hosting viewing parties or are overdue for a delivery, Tournament of Roses officials recommend telling everyone to arrive before the closures kick in Wednesday night.

Unless you have a need to be in the area during the parade, you might want to avoid this stretch of the city until it's all over.

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CityOfPasadena.net

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If you’ll need to drive to or through the downtown Pasadena area, you can use:

• Walnut Street or the 210 Freeway for east-west travel north of Colorado Boulevard
• Del Mar Boulevard or Cordova Street for east-west travel south of Colorado Boulevard
• There will be limited crossing for north-south travel during the closure (see map for details)

Please note: There will be a 5K race at midnight to celebrate the New Year from Pasadena Avenue to Hill Street. Several intersections will close to cross traffic at 11 p.m. Dec. 31 and re-open at the end of the race event at about 2 a.m., including Pasadena, Fair Oaks, and Marengo avenues (see full list on map.)

Tickets

You can still snag grandstand tickets — we found ones from $80 to $130, depending on where you want to sit. You’ll need to have your ticket handy.

The Rose Parade of 2022 represented a long-awaited return to Pasadena's New Year’s tradition.

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Alborz Kamalizad

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LAist

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The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 8 a.m. Organizers recommend that ticketholders aim to be seated by 7 a.m. In order to do that, you should plan to arrive in the area by at least 6 a.m. to give yourself plenty of time to work through the crowds and traffic.

Note that there is a "clear bags only" policy in place for grandstand seating at the Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl game and several other events. You can find details here.

Curbside seating and camping

Curbside seating is free, and lots of people will set up shop and camp overnight, which is only allowed on Dec. 31. If you’ll be bringing your kids or teens along, they need to be with an adult during the overnight hours.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy the parade without paying for seating. You just need to plan. And plan to arrive early!

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CityOfPasadena.net

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You can grab your sidewalk spot starting at noon Dec. 31, but all your blankets and chairs have to stay on the curb until 11 p.m., at which point you’ll be able to move up a bit closer to the blue “honor-line.” Tents, sofas, unoccupied chairs, and boxes that can be used as stools or seats are not allowed along the route.

You can warm up with a small elevated barbecue, but it needs to be away from buildings and you have to have a fire extinguisher available. Bonfires and fireworks are banned, period.

Most importantly, don’t forget to drink water and dress for cool temps and the possibility of rain. (You can always sit on that extra jacket).

Given the weather conditions, it's important to note that the rules call for no umbrellas. The City of Pasadena advisers parade goers to use rain jackets and ponchos, which they optimistically describe as "a great alternative so everyone can enjoy the show!"

Pasadena city officials are reminding people than umbrellas are not allowed along the Rose Parade route ahead of a forecast of rain on the parade for the first time in 20 years.

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Courtesy City of Pasadena

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LAist's Sharon McNary, a longtime Pasadena resident who has offered great tips on making the most of the parade in the past, points out this might be a very popular year for what she calls "The People’s Grandstand.”

That said, Sharon notes "it’s kind of a locals-only institution. Fans create their own little wooden seats that fit nicely into the notches in the stones lining the sloped wall of the 210 Freeway overpass over Sierra Madre Blvd. In the rare rainy year, they have shelter, and in the more typical warm years, they have shade. And they get to view the spectacle of the taller floats folding themselves down to fit under the overpass and opening back up on the other side."

Local craftspeople make small wooden seats that fit in the mortar notches in the sloped wall under a the 210 Freeway overpass at Sierra Madre Blvd.

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Sharon McNary

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LAist

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Parking

There is no parking allowed on the parade route, but you can purchase reserved spots. Pasadena recommendations include Sharp Seating, the city itself, and LAZ Parking. Parking at Metro rail stations are another option you can check on before you head out.

Authorities urge that you pay for parking in advance to guarantee your spot. Otherwise, parking is on a first-come, first-served basis and of course that supply is limited.

Once again: Arriving extra early is your best bet so you can avoid the traffic hassles and any unintended GPS glitches. Authorities warn: "Please do not rely upon your GPS as road closures will be in effect and may not reflect on the GPS application."

The last time it rained, in 2006, the bleachers were far less packed than usual.

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Anne Cusack

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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

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All parking meters are free and time limits will not be enforced on New Year’s Day, and overnight parking restrictions will not be enforced until 2 a.m. Jan. 4, according to the city. But keep an eye out for red curbs, “No Parking” signs, fire hydrants, and driveways, as the usual restrictions still apply. You don't want to risk getting your vehicle towed.

Public transportation

Where possible, public transit might be your easiest way to go, and Metrolink will be offering special early morning hours on the San Bernardino, Antelope Valley, Orange County, Ventura County, and 91 Perris Valley lines for the parade. (Note that Metrolink’s Riverside County Line is not running on New Year’s Day.)

From the Metro website: "On New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day (Dec. 31 to Jan. 1), we’ll be running service all night on the A, B, D and E Lines with additional early morning service to help get you to Pasadena on time for the parade, which begins at 8 a.m. sharp." Metro will also have buses traveling to areas near the route and Rose Bowl game.

You can find more information here.

These are the A Line stations in Pasadena that closest to the parade: 

• Del Mar Station (walk .3 miles north to the parade route)
• Memorial Park Station (walk .2 miles south)
• Lake Station (walk .4 miles south)
• Allen Station (walk .4 miles south)

Metro will also have buses traveling to areas near the route and Rose Bowl game, which you can find more information on here

Metro is offering free fares on buses, trains, Metro Bike Share and Metro Micro from 4 a.m. Dec. 31 until 3 a.m. Jan. 1. For Metro Bike Share, use code 123125 on New Year’s Eve. For Metro Micro riders, use promo code RING26.

Accessible viewing

Three street-level viewing areas are reserved for people with disabilities and up to four of their guests.

Each of those areas along the parade route will have a section with audio descriptions for visually impaired people and another with sign language interpreters.

Diane Gagnon among Rose Parade floats on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.

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Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

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Los Angeles Times

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Tickets to all these viewing areas are free! But to request space, you’ll need to complete a form. The 2026 form is already marked closed, but for future planning, here is the Jan. 1, 2027 form.

Please note: no seats are provided, so you’ll need to bring your own arrangements.

There’s also limited wheelchair accessible grandstand seating sold through Sharp Seating.

Rose Bowl game

The Rose Bowl game, the oldest of bowls dating back to 1902, immediately follows the parade. The Rose Bowl Stadium parking lot opens at 4 a.m. Jan. 1 and the stadium gates open at 10:30 a.m. The game starts at 1 p.m.

A quick scan turned up tickets that are still available for the Indiana vs. Alabama matchup for a little as $130.90 and as much as $2,683.13.

General parking is available in certain lots at the stadium, with spots going for $69 that you buy it in advance.

For public transportation, you can take the Metro A line and exit at the Memorial Park station. You can find more information here about getting to the stadium.

Please note: the stadium has a clear-bag policy, which means backpacks, purses, and camera cases are not allowed.

If you want more info

If you’re dying for more details, you can download the official Rose Parade app here or here. You’ll be able to see the full line-up, maps, and get more information about the participants.

If you skimmed over the rules and your car gets towed on New Year’s Day, you can call (626) 577-6426 from 5 p.m. Dec. 31 until 6 p.m. Jan. 1.

And if you still have questions that have not been answered here, you can try the visitor hotline at (877) 793-9911.

L.A. shoppers could see an additional 0.5% sales tax that would help fund the Los Angeles Fire Department.

A petition to get the sales tax on next year’s General Election ballot was approved by the City Clerk on Dec. 26 for signature gathering.

If approved by voters, the money gathered from the tax would help pay for hiring firefighters, equipment, facility upgrades and more. The ordinance would be to “supplement, not replace,” the department’s current funding, according to the ordinance.

In a statement, the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City said the LAFD is half the size needed to keep LA safe.

"Due to decades of underinvestment, our fire department currently operates with the same number of firefighters as in the 1960s, six fewer stations, and five times the call load,” the union representing the city’s firefighters said.

What we know

The petition must gather more than 139,000 petition signatures by mid-April for the initiative to be on the upcoming November ballot.

If voters approve the ordinance, the funds generated by the tax would be kept in a separate account. It would also require annual audits and a citizens’ oversight committee to monitor spending.

More on the fire department’s needs

An LAist report found the department is one of the smallest for a big city in the U.S.

According to the department, there are 106 fire stations — six fewer than in the 1960s — and 3,412 sworn firefighters — only 33 more than in 1965.

In 2024, the International Association of Fire Fighters conducted a “Standards of Cover” report on the LAFD. It found that the department had overwhelming needs, according to the union.

The report concluded that for L.A.’s current population, LAFD should have 7,360 firefighters – 4,000 more than its current force. It also identified that the department needs 52 new fire stations, dozens of new dispatchers, EMS stations and more.

What about the city's budget?

In June, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed a $13 billion budget that included cuts to LAFD's street medicine teams. The department's budget is $76 million —higher than last year's to allow fire officials to hire more firefighters and buy new fire trucks. The 9% increase in the fire budget is the highest among departments.