With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Rose Parade Roars Back After First Cancellation Since World War II
The Homewood Patriot Band marches in the 133rd Rose Parade in Pasadena.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Saturday’s parade represents a long-awaited return to the Pasadena New Year’s tradition.
The Rose Parade is presented each year by the nonprofit Tournament of Roses Association, which also hosts the Rose Bowl football game. The 2021 parade was canceled due to pandemic restrictions on crowds. (However, last year’s Rose Bowl game was played in Arlington, Texas, far from its traditional location at the Rose Bowl Stadium.)
The parade theme, “Dream, Believe, Achieve” and most of the participants who had intended to march in the canceled 2021 parade rolled over to this year’s event. Many of the parade floats were tributes to the medical professionals, teachers and others who have worked on the hazardous front lines of the pandemic.
There weren't the traditional massive crowds at this year's Rose Parade, but plenty of people still turned out.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Support for LAist comes from
Even with a dearth of volunteers, this year's floats still went all out, with jungle scenes, a girl riding a jet pack and the biggest chicken you've ever seen in your life.
Rebecca Litteral worked on the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo animated float. A take on the "Hey Diddle Diddle" nursery rhyme, "Stargrazers" features cows welding a machine that will get them over the moon.
"I learned a lot, did a lot of different things that I typically wouldn't get to do," Litteral said, "I've been super excited to go play with this amazing group of people."
She also invited her mom, Susan, to help on the project.
"I grew up in Southern California," Susan said, "It was always a bucket list dream to work on a float."
Many of the bands played on, including those from Pasadena City College, Los Angeles Unified School District and one of this year's most logistically challenged groups, the Band Directors Marching Band. The parade went without its traditional selection of bands from outside North America due to travel restrictions.
A family of pooper scoopers patrols the 2022 Rose Parade route.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Support for LAist comes from
A Packed Parade, In Some Places
Not as many people spent their entire night staking out seats this year as in previous years — Saturday morning's early birds still nabbed choice locations along the parade route.
In previous years, Paul Duran of Alhambra has had to camp out for two nights to get a good spot. This year he got prime seats in the telecast area with relative ease and an assist from his son.
We've been closed down for so long and we feel good about being here today.
— Crystal Canton, Pasadena resident
The 5.5-mile route turns onto Colorado Blvd. where most TV coverage originates, and then heads east and turns onto Sierra Madre Blvd., passing under the 210 Freeway. While plenty of people helped fill up much of the main telecast area — which has 40,000 seats — the crowd thinned out along the rest of the route.
Gail Taylor, a former Pasadena City College educator, lives in West Virginia and traveled here to join family at the parade. She said the crowd is thinner than she had ever seen it.
But parade attendees said they're confident about their decision, thanks to masks, booster shots and being outdoors.
Support for LAist comes from
"We're long-term Pasadena residents and this is what we live for," said Crystal Canton, who attended with her family. "We've been closed down for so long and we feel good about being here today."
The flower-covered floats will be on display at the ticketed event known as Floatfest on Sierra Madre Blvd near Washington Blvd.
The parade leads into the 108th playing of the Rose Bowl football game, a matchup between The Ohio State University Buckeyes versus the University of Utah Utes.
2022 Rose Parade
The annual parade through Pasadena returned after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a one-year hiatus. It featured many of the traditional trappings even if the crowd was on the lighter side.
The LAUSD color guard marches through Pasadena.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
TV icon LeVar Burton served as Grand Marshal for the 2022 Rose Parade.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Singer LeAnn Rimes opens the 2022 Rose Parade.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
The Wetzel's Pretzels float rolls through Pasadena.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
The biggest chicken you've ever seen.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
A bear gets boosted.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
The Louisiana float.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
The women of the Norco Cowgirls.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Lovey Trujillo, from Hawthorne, has celebrated her birthday every year at the Rose Parade “my whole life.” She scored a rose from one of the women of the “Norco Cowgirls.”
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
We'd tell you how much work it takes to operate this thing, but we might be lion.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
A proud pup represents the Temecula Valley Horsemen's Association
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Heavy rain from the early-season storm could trigger debris flows. Snow is also possible above 7,000 feet. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership announces that 11% of the workforce is being cut. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
Best of LAist