2010: A Cut Above the Rest
The 2010 Rose Parade started right on time at 8AM Pacific Standard Time on Friday, January 1, 2010 under sunny skies and about 60 degrees. The parade theme was “2010: A Cut Above the Rest.” It was the 121st year for the Pasadena, California parade. On the same day, the famous Rose Bowl college football game took place just after 2PM PST. The Ohio Buckeyes beat the Oregon Ducks this year.
Millions of fans around the world watched the broadcast in over 200 countries. In the United States, the parade was broadcast both live and in repeats on several networks including ABC, NBC, HGTV, Hallmark Channel, RFD-TV, Travel Channel, and locally in Southern California on KTLA. Spanish fans watched the parade on Univision. The Rose Bowl game was broadcast on ABC.
History
The parade began at the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena in 1890 as a way to show off the pleasant winter weather in Southern California to visitors from back east. The initial parade featured horse-drawn carts and stagecoaches. These early “floats” were decorated with fresh flowers to reinforce the warm weather theme. It was also good business sense because it helped to display the fact that fresh fruit and vegetables could be purchased in the middle of winter. The initial event was more of a festival in that there were races and other sports games held on the grounds of the Hunt Club. Because of this combination of
sports and flower-covered parade floats, the name Tournament of Roses was given to the event. In 1895 the parade was moved from the Hunt Club grounds (because it had grown too big) to an area now known as Tournament Park. The parade has taken place on Colorado Boulevard since then. Also taking place in the early years was a chariot race. The Rose Bowl football game did not take place until 1923 when the football game was played in the then-new Rose Bowl Stadium. However, in 1902 a Tournament East-West Football Game was played and then in 1916 another football game was played that has been held annually since then. Today’s parade usually features over 40 floats gliding along the 5 mile parade route. Those who want to see the floats in the staging area can arrive early. Conversely, at the end of the parade, the floats are typically on display for public viewing.
Parade Day
It probably goes without saying but we'll say it anyway: plan ahead! Traffic around Los Angeles is challenging no matter what day it is. On parade day it's very difficult to travel around the Pasadena area. Carpools or bus transportation are good options. Even if you are only going to see the staging area or the float displays at the end, it's best to leave early, have a map, and plan a few alternatives.
Parking
Be prepared to walk. Get there early! Be prepared for slow traffic and long waits. However, there is a good deal of parking available in the downtown Pasadena area. There are several options, you can take your chance and just show up the morning of the parade. Or, you can reserve a space ahead of time. Reserved spaces for the 2010 parade cost anywhere from about $30-$50. You can also park a car overnight (for example if you plan to camp out on the sidewalk) for $50-$60. If you have an RV, you can stay overnight for about $150-$200 (depending on size). You’ll still need to either buy grandstand seats or find a place on the sidewalk to watch the parade. Another option is to get a parking space that has views of the parade. These are expensive (about $500 for a spot) but might be fun since you can stay in your vehicle to watch the parade. Keep in mind, these aren’t camping spaces so you won’t find hookups and bathrooms will be the portable toilet style (which are placed all along the parade route).
Grandstand seating
There are about 70,000 grandstand seats available each year. Tickets have been available from SharpSeating.com the official ticket seller. Tickets in 2009 ranged from $42-$85. The better areas (more expensive) are the ones at the intersection of Orange Grove and West Colorado. This is where the parade begins so you don’t have to wait as long to see the parade start and it is also within 2 miles of the Rose Bowl stadium so many people watch the parade and then walk to the game.
The turn from South Orange Grove Blvd onto Colorado is where the major media set up their live cameras and the parade commentators usually sit in booths high above the street. This is directly across from the Norton Simon Museum.
The farther east you go and the higher the seating level (farther back from the street), the lower the price for tickets. If you are willing to wait a little longer to see the parade and be farther away from the Rose Bowl, you will get a better deal.
Other options
Of course, many thousands simply line the street. This can be hit or miss and there is no inside tips (unless you know someone who owns a business or has a window overlooking the parade route). So, best bet is to plan an overnight camped out on the sidewalk to get the best spot. Sleeping overnight on the sidewalk is allowed in Pasadena on the parade route on the night before the parade. Many families and friends bring grills and eat meals, sing songs, and generally make a fun night of it. Dress warm as the night will be chilly but usually not that uncomfortable.
Budget friendly ideas
If you want to see the floats and are less interested in the parade itself, consider some of the before and after events.
You can see the floats as they are given their final touchups on South Orange Grove Blvd usually for a few days prior to the parade. Admission in 2009 was $7.00.
After the parade, consider the post-parade reviewing opportunities where the parade concludes off Sierra Madre Blvd near the intersection with Washington in the Victory Park area. Floats are usually on display for a few days after the parade. The admission in 2010 was $7.00. The post parade viewing is a great option if you want to get good pictures since the floats are stationary.
See pictures from the parade>
List of 2010 float winners>
