Gearing up for a rainy start to the 137th Rose Parade — and the one float you do not want to miss

Happy 2026, everyone! And welcome to what could be the rainiest Rose Parade ever.

Heavy rainfall is expected this morning, according to the National Weather Service, and possibly even thunderstorm conditions. "Chance of precipitation is 100%," according to the overnight predictions. But will it actually rain on the thousands upon thousands who typically watch the parade in person? Only time will tell.

"Hopefully, the rain will hold off a little bit and won't be as bad as we think it's going to be," said Chris Cooper, the band director for Homewood High School in Homewood, Alabama, who is making his 6th appearance at the Rose Parade with the Homewood Patriot Band. "We're not used to this in sunny California, for sure. But hey, the show goes on ... rain or shine."

The parade is scheduled to get underway at 8 a.m. sharp featuring bands, dancers and floats covered in all manner of flowers, plants and other natural materials — a celebration of our Southern California lifestyle. The theme is “The Magic in Teamwork,” with Laker icon Earvin "Magic" Johnson as the Grand Marshal. If you choose to stay home, here's a list of places where you can watch, including KTLA, Telemundo, ABC and more.

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Keep reading for more on the one poignant float that you must not miss.

If you plan to attend in person, here are some last-minute tips, including: No umbrellas along the parade route! That's the request from authorities who note that umbrellas will obstruct views (and of course there's the risk of folks getting poked in the eye with those things). So pack those rain slickers and galoshes and keep any umbrellas under wraps until you are well off the parade route.

Here's a link to parking recommendations include Sharp Seating, the city itself, and LAZ Parking. Pay in advance if all all possible to reserve your spot. (Scroll down for a map of street closures.)

The one float you don't want to miss

And whether you are planning to watch in person, or on TV, there is one float you need to be on the lookout for: “Rising Together,” a float featuring a Phoenix rising from the ashes, and dedicated to the survivors of the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires.

The float is rich with symbolism and features 31 sunflowers — one for each of the people who lost their lives. During the parade, eight fire survivors will ride on the float as it makes its way through the streets of Pasadena. The float is co-sponsored by the California Community Foundation and the Black Freedom Fund.

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 before wrapping up at Villa Street.

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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How rare is this rain?

Very. Legend has it that it "never" rains on Pasadena's iconic Rose Parade. But history proves that's not true. Admittedly, it will be the first wet parade in 20 years, and before that it had been 50 years since the last rainy parade day.