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Pasadena Festival has International Appeal

As one of the most watched parades in the world, the Tournament of Roses – Rose Parade is California’s best tourism promotion to keep visitors coming during the shoulder season. The festival boasts mostly sunshine during its storied 129-year history, reflectings its origins. Around 1890 a parade club founder, Professor Charles F. Holder, announced at a meeting:

“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.”

See Rose Parade Events

The Rose Parade is more than the parade, itself. There’s a band festival, horse festival, pre-parade Deco Week in which the public can volunteer to decorate floats, and post-parade float viewing.

• Deco Week December 26-31, 2017 Sign up to decorate a float or help with tasks.
• Band Fest December 29, 2017 Stadium seating at this ticketed event allows guests to watch parade marching bands perform.
• Equefest December 29, 2017 Features many of the world’s finest horses appearing on Colorado Boulevard on the Big Day.
• Rose Bowl Game January 1, 2018 includes Rose Bowl Bash Dec.31 and Hall of Fame Induction Dec.30, 2017.
• Post Parade Float Viewing January 1, 1 p.m. – January 2, 2018, 4 p.m.

International Highlights

• China Airlines, Kiwanis International, Lions Club International and global companies have floats in the parade this year.
• Band participants include Marching Koalas of Dangar, New South Wales, Australia; Banda De Musica Herberto Lopez of Republic of Panama;  Burlington Teen Tour Band from Ontario, Canada; and Kyoto Tachibana High School Green Band from Kyoto, Japan.