On Wednesday, mum’s the word.
The whole darned world is about to turn its attention away from fierce political debate, the price of car insurance and and the NFL playoff scenarios and focus for two solid hours on chrysanthemums, pampas grass, poppy seeds and, oh yeah, roses.
The Rose Parade will return to Pasadena on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 (for those of you who still write checks by hand, a reminder on the “25” part). Along with all those posie-packed floats will come marching bands with way more energy than anyone should have at sunrise, high-stepping horses, the new queen and her princess posse and lots more bright-shiny stuff.
And, sure, you’re going to watch. Here are some key last-minute steps for you, whether you’re planning on watching from Colorado Boulevard or that comfy shape your posterior has made in the sofa over the years.
What: 136th Rose Parade Presented by Honda
When: 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1
Where: The 5.5-mile parade route begins at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena and concludes at Sierra Madre Boulevard and East Villa Street.
Now, if you’re just going to stay home, perched close to Mr. Coffee and his pals, the cruller sisters, here’s what you need to know: The parade will air live on KTLA-5, KABC-7, KNBC-4, Great American Family, RFD-TV and, en espanol, Univision. It will also stream on Christmas Plus, Fubo and Pluto.
KTLA, as always, will repeat the broadcast multiple times for folks who slept in or had to run out and address a power outage, make the donuts or some other thankless early-morning job.
If you’re at home, the broadcast ends around 10 a.m. If you’re on the parade line, remember it takes about an hour and 47 minutes for that first entry to make it to the end of the route. And folks at home don’t get to sit in traffic afterward. Dang.
The Rose Bowl football game will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. from — where else? — the Rose Bowl Stadium vis ABC and ESPN with a stream on WatchESPN. Sling TV, Hulu, YouTube TV, Fubo and others will post the coverage so long as you paid for a streaming plan.
This year, the game is the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, pitting the top-seeded Oregon Ducks against the No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s a rematch — Ducks beat the Buckeyes in a 32–31 nail-biter on Oct. 12.
The winner this time advances to the championship semifinal. The loser flies home to a much colder place. Well, yeah, they both will, actually.
Now, if you’re actually headed to watch the joy erupt live and in person…
The sun will rise at 6:58 a.m., just about an hour before Kiesza and Aloe Blacc start singing.
Bring your shades, they will be backed by 20 dancers in “shimmering, reflective costumes.
And don’t be startled, around the same time the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, will soar overhead. Though it won’t be covered in Vanda Orchids, it’s still a stirring site.
And maybe a carafe full of hot coffee. But, like usual, you likely won’t need your raincoat.
The temperature at sunrise will be about 50 degrees. That’s brisk for us Southern Californians, but in Mankato, Erie and Bozeman, they’ll gonna be snickering about how we shiver, and, as usual, jealous as all get-out.
This year’s Rose Parade will use more than 3 million flowers. So if you plan to count all those petals, you’re gonna need help.
(Spoiler: For the record, there will be 39 floats, 16 equestrian teams and 24 marching bands, so you can skip the slide rule.)
Related: Rose Parade 2025 — Your guide to every float, band and equestrian unit, in order
Not allowed. It’s a no-drone zone, for safety’s sake. Your selfies are going to have to be earthbound.
Reserved parking (autos, buses and RVs) for both the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game is available for purchase through the following:
Paid parking also is offered on a first-come, first-served basis at various lots and parking structures near the parade route.
Note: Overnight parking on Pasadena streets begins at noon the day before the parade, and continues for that evening only.
All “No Parking” areas and red curb zones remain off-limits, and vehicles in violation will be subject to impound and a fine.
There is no parking allowed on the parade route itself. Illegally parked vehicles will be impounded.
Metro’s Gold Line has transit connections to the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Game and other Tournament of Roses events. Information: metro.net
These stations offer the best access to the parade route:
Parking is available at many Metro Rail stations, including Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles; some lots are paid while others are free.
Metro also will provide regular bus service to areas near the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Game and post-parade areas. Buses originate from locations throughout Los Angeles County.
For real-time updates on Metro service, follow @metrolaalerts and @metrolosangeles on Twitter. For more information, call 323-466-3876 (323-GoMetro)
Metrolink offers rides from San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties to Tournament of Roses events via Union Station, where riders can transfer to the Metro Gold Line. (Metrolink tickets include free transfers to connecting trains and buses.)
Information: metrolinktrains.com, or follow @Metrolink on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Pasadena Police Department will be closing the Rose Parade route early to vehicular traffic to enhance public safety measures.
Route closures will take effect beginning at 10 p.m. the night before the parade through 2 p.m. the following day, along Colorado Boulevard, from Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard, and northbound on Sierra Madre to Paloma Street.
Related: How law enforcement plans to keep visitors safe at Pasadena’s Rose Parade and Rose Bowl
There are lots of things you can and can’t do. Don’t do the things your shouldn’t but go ahead and do the stuff you should.
And if anyone asks, tell them we told you to behave yourself.
Five things that are OK:
And five things that are not OK:
Use your pause button and zoom function. Or trek to Floatfest — your chance to see the floats traveling at 0 MPH. It will be at the intersection of Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards. The schedule:
Tickets are $25; children 5 and under are free.
For you foodies out there, look for the food trucks to satisfy that post–parade appetite.
If this treatise didn’t answer all your questions, here’s where to get even more information:
That’s a personal choice. After a few moments of reflection, we are confident you will be able to choose between a corgi-sized breakfast burrito and one of those cinnamon rolls that’s larger than a spare tire. But don’t, at all costs, forget the cocoa.
