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Rose Parade highlights: Themes, photos and grand marshals over the decades
The float 'Circus Memories' heads down the parade route during the 110th Annual Rose Parade.
(
Vince Bucci
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
For more than a century, the Rose Parade has delighted audiences across Southern California with its colorful, elaborate floats and fanfare.
The parade will celebrate its 137th year when floats begin traveling through Pasadena at 8 a.m. Jan. 1, 2026. This year's theme is "Magic in Teamwork," and Magic Johnson is the Grand Marshal.
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Thousands of people will flock to Pasadena, with millions more tuning in on TV. -
You can hear the 2026 Rose Parade theme, “The Magic in Teamwork,” reflected in the music of the ensembles performing at Bandfest on Tuesday.
This year, for the first time in two decades, rain appears to be highly likely on parade day. Rain conditions are rare for the legendary parade.
Showing off SoCal weather, in fact, was one of the main drivers of the parade's creation.
As the Pasadena Tournament of Roses website recounts, Charles F. Holder led Valley Hunt Club members in creating the parade in 1890, saying: “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.”
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Here are photos from some of the Rose Parades past, with details about key participants — from movie and music stars to sports legends to real-life heroes, and a even a couple of fictional characters:
1939
Theme: "Golden Memories"
Burbank's 1939 Rose Parade float was titled "Tally-Ho of 1889," calling back to horse drawn wagons popular in the early years of the parade. 1939 was the 50th anniversary of the parade.
(
Herman J. Schultheis
/
Los Angeles Photographers Collection
)
Key people:
- Lathrop K. Leishman, President
- Shirley Temple, Grand Marshal
- Barbara Dougall, Rose Queen
1946
Theme: "Victory, Unity & Peace"
'Winged Victory' leads the floats in the 1946 Rose Parade, just behindis the 'Dawn of Peace' float carrying the Rose Parade Queen and her court.
(
Security Pacific National Bank Collection
/
L.A. Public Library
)
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Key people:
- Charles A. Strutt, President
- Admiral William F. Halsey, Grand Marshal
- Patricia Auman, Rose Queen
1960
Theme: "Tall Tales and True"
Glendale's entry in the 1960 Rose Parade honored the "pioneer spirit" and took home the governor's trophy.
(
Valley Times collection
/
L.A. Public Library
)
Key people:
- Raymond A. Dorn, President
- Vice President Richard M. Nixon, Grand Marshal
- Margarethe Bertelson, Rose Queen
1975
Theme: "Heritage of America"
Baseball player Hank Aaron waves to the crowd as grand marshal of the 1975 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, Jan. 1, 1975. Riding with him in the open car is his wife, Billye.
(
AP
)
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Key people:
- Carl H. Hoelscher, President
- Paul G. Bryan, President
- Henry L. "Hank" Aaron, Grand Marshal
- Robin Carr, Rose Queen
1982
Theme: "Friends And Neighbors"
Actor Jimmy Stewart, grand marshal of the 93rd Tournament of Roses Parade, waves to the crowd as he's accompanied by his wife, Gloria, Jan. 1, 1982.
(
Reed Saxon
/
AP
)
Key people:
- Harold E. Coombes Jr., President
- Jimmy Stewart, Grand Marshall
- Kathryn Potthast, Rose Queen
1990
Theme: "A World of Harmony"
Zsa Zsa Gabor rides her Tennessee walking horse Silver Fox in the 101st Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1, 1990. The appearance of the famous cop-slapper angered many spectators, who booed loudly as she rode by.
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Douglas C. Pizac
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AP
)
Sponsored message
Key people:
- Don W. Fedde, President
- Sen. John Glenn, Grand Marshal
- Yasmine Delawari, Rose Queen
1996
Theme: "Kids' Laughter & Dreams"
Kailey Zelek 9, left, Emily Parris 14, center, and Katie Dennis 10, sell 'Kermit the Frog' puppets to bystanders along the Rose Parade route in Pasadena, Jan. 1, 1996. Kermit the Frog is the first non-human to be named Grand Marshal alone.
(
Damian Dovarganes
/
AP
)
Left to right, supermodels Kathy Ireland, Vendela and Naomi Campbell wave to the crowd while riding on a float based on the children's fable, "Jack and the Beanstalk" during the 107th Tournament of Roses Parade Jan. 1, 1996.
(
John T. Barr
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Key people:
- W.H. Griest Jr., President
- Kermit the Frog, Grand Marshal
- Keli Hutchins, Rose Queen
1997
Theme: "Life's Shining Moments"
The California State PTA "The Field Trip" float makes its way down the parade route during the 108th Tournament of Roses Parade on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1997.
(
Damian Dovarganes
/
AP
)
Key people:
- William S. Johnstone Jr., President
- Carl Lewis, Grand Marshal
- Shannon Miller, Grand Marshal
- Jennifer Halferty, Rose Queen
1999
Theme: "Echoes of the Century"
The Florists' Transworld Delivery float, "Mother's Day," along with other floats and bands travel down the 110th Tournament of Roses Parade route on Jan. 1, 1999.
(
Damian Dovarganes
/
AP
)
Four of the named Grand Marshals of the 1999 Tournament of Roses Parade, from left: astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Ray Bartlett, lifelong friend of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, film producer and documentarian David Wolper and actress Shirley Temple Black.
(
Nick Ut
/
AP
)
Key people:
- Dick E. Ratli, President
- Buzz Aldrin, Grand Marshal
- Jackie Robinson, Grand Marshal (posthumously)
- Shirley Temple Black, Grand Marshal
- David L. Wolper, Grand Marshal
- Christina Farrell, Rose Queen
2000
Theme: "Celebrate 2000: Visions of the Future"
The 2000 Tournament of Roses Royal Court poses for a photo during a ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1999. Sophia Bush, then 17, was crowned the 82nd Rose Queen and went on to a successful acting career.
(
Nick Ut
/
AP
)
An entry in the parade.
(
Scott Nelson
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Key people:
- Kenneth H. Burrows, President
- Roy E. Disney, Grand Marshal
- Sophia Bush, Rose Queen
2002
Theme: "Good Times"
A giant motorcycle-riding Uncle Sam carries New York firemen, police, and military personnel in front of the Statue of Liberty on the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States float at the 113th Annual Rose Parade.
(
David McNew
/
Getty Images
)
Key people:
- Ronald A. Okum, President
- Regis Philbin, Grand Marshal
- Caroline Hsu, Rose Queen
2005
Theme: "Celebrate Family"
Grand Marshal Mickey Mouse rides in the 116th Tournament Of Roses Parade.
(
Matthew Simmons
/
Getty Images
)
Key people:
- David M. Davis, President
- Mickey Mouse, Grand Marshal
- Ashley Moreno, Rose Queen
2006
Theme: "It's Magical"
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor served as Grand Marshal the last time it rained on the parade in 2006. Rain is forecast again for the 2026 parade.
(
Anne Cusack
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
Pachyderm Parade float by the City of Burbank makes its way down Orange Grove in the rain, the first time rain came down on the parade in more than 50 years.
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Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
Key people:
- Elizabeth Evans Wright, President
- Sandra Day O'Connor, Grand Marshal
- Camille Clark, Rose Queen
2009
Theme: "Hats Off to Entertainment"
The University of Southern California cheerleaders perform at the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade Jan. 1, 2009. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Key people:
- Ronald H. Conzonire, President
- Cloris Leachman, Grand Marshal
- Courtney Lee, Rose Queen
2010
Theme: 2010: A Cut Above the Rest
Rose Queen Natalie Anne Innocenzi and her court the on the parade route during the 121st annual Tournment of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2010. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Key people:
- Gary J. DiSano, President
- Capt. Chelsey B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, Grand Marshal
- Natalie Innocenzi, Rose Queen
2011
Theme: Building Dreams, Friendship & Memories
Evanne Friedmann was named Rose Queen for the 2011 parade. .
(
Frederick M. Brown
/
Getty Images
)
The Southwest DeKalb High School marching band from Decatur, Georgia played in the 2011 parade.
(
Robyn Beck
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Key people:
- Jerey L. Throop, President
- Paula Deen, Grand Marshal
- Evanne Friedmann, Rose Queen
2012
Theme: "Just Imagine..."
Members of Wells Fargo theme float 'Just Imagine...' move along Orange Grove Boulevard during the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade. (Photo: Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)
Musician Kenny G participates in the Rose Parade on Jan. 2, 2012 in Pasadena, California. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Key people:
- Richard W. Jackson, President
- J.R. Martinez, Grand Marshal
- Drew Washington, Rose Queen
2014
Theme: "Dreams Come True"
Parade Grand Marshal Vin Scully and wife Sandra Hunt attend the 125th Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2014. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Key people:
- R. Scott Jenkins, President
- Vin Scully, Grand Marshal
- Ana Acosta, Rose Queen
2016
Theme: "Find Your Adventure"
The Disneyland Resort float is on display at the 127th Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2016. (Photo: Scott Brinegar/Disneyland via Getty Images)
Key people:
- Mike Matthiessen, President
- Ken Burns, Grand Marshal
- Erika Winter, Rose Queen
2017
Theme: "Echoes of Success"
Members of the Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Industrial No. 3 Buhos Marching Band, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico participate in the 128th Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 2, 2017. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Key people:
- Brad Ratli, President
- Janet Evans, Grand Marshal
- Allyson Felix, Grand Marshal
- Greg Louganis, Grand Marshal
- Victoria Castellanos, Rose Queen
2018
Theme: "Making a Difference"
The Burbank Tournament of Roses Association float won the Founder Award at the 129th Rose Parade. (Photo: Michael Owen Baker/AP)
Key people:
- Lance Tibbet, President
- Gary Sinese, Grand Marshal
- Isabella Marez, Rose Queen
2019
Theme: "The Melody of Life"
Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal Chaka Khan waves during the 130th Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2019. (Photo: Michael Owen Baker/AP)
The UPS Store float, 'Books Keep Us on Our Toes' and winner of the Sweepstakes Award, moves along the route in the 2019 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade. (Photo: Carlos Delgado/AP)
Key people:
- Gerald Freeny, President
- Chaka Khan, Grand Marshal
- Louise Siskel, Rose Queen
2020
Theme: “The Power of Hope”
In this 2020 Rose Parade float, cartoon animals operate heavy equipment
(
Sharon McNary
/
LAist
)
Key people:
- Laura Farber, President
- Camille Kennedy, Rose Queen
- Rita Moreno, Grand Marshall
- Gina Torres, Grand Marshall
- Laurie Hernandez, Grand Marshall
2022
Theme: "Dream. Believe. Achieve."
The parade returned in 2022 after being cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Participants in the float for the City of Alhambra way during the Rose Parade of 2022.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Key people:
- Dr. Robert B. Miller President
- Nadia Chung, Rose Queen
- LeVar, Burton Grand Marshall
2023
Theme: "Turning the Corner"
The Cal Poly Universities float in the 2023 Rose Parade was named "Road to Reclamation" and won the "Extraordinaire Award". Cal Poly has appeared in parade 74 times.
(
Mariana Dale
/
LAist
)
Key people:
- Amy Wainscott, President
- Bella Ballard, Rose Queen
- Gabby Giffords, Grand Marshall
2024
Theme: "Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language"
The 2024 Rose Parade.
(
Michael Blackshire
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
Key people:
- Alex Aghajanian, President
- Naomi Stillitano, Rose Queen
- Audra McDonald, Grand Marshall
2025
Theme: "Best Day Ever!"
Tennis great Billie Jean King, was the Grand Marshal of 2025 Rose Parade.
(
Damian Dovarganes
/
AP
)
Key people:
- Ed Morales, President
- Lindsay Charles, Rose Queen
- Billie Jean King, Grand Marshall
2026
Theme: "The Magic in Teamwork"
Key people:
- Mark Leavens, President
- Serena Hui Guo, Rose Queen
- Magic Johnson, Grand Marshall
A version of this story initially ran in 2019. It has been updated with additional parade details.
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