It's the pagentry and the tradition of New Year's Day, followed by the Granddaddy football game of the them all. It's the Tournament of Roses Parade! Whether you are planning to attend just the Rose Parade or are a football fan and will also be attending the Rose Bowl and Parade, the day is filled with moments and memories to last a lifetime.
The theme of the 2027 Tournament of Roses Parade is "Welcome", and I can't think of a more appropriate name for the parade that truly welcomes everyone. Marching bands from four countries will participate, joining the celebration from as far away as Kyoto, Japan. The atmosphere throughout the Parade is an inclusive celebration of cultures, music, and art from the exquisitely designed parade floats, to the beauty and elegance of the performers.
See the floats being decorated, or decorate one yourself!
You've traveled all the way to California, and you won't want to miss anything happening during the lead up to the Tournament of Roses Parade. The #1 can't miss event is the Float Decorating Barns. We include access and transportation to the Float Barns with our 3 and 4 night Rose Parade Packages and the 3 and 4 night Rose Bowl & Parade Packages. Once inside these huge barns, you will see various volunteers on ladders surrounding the float structures assembling the flowers and various decorations. Thousands and thousands of flowers in bins and in other various forms being divided, trimmed, crushed, and pasted onto floats. 100% of the materials used to decorate the floats are natural and the decorators take this task seriously. I watched one set of volunteers crush lilacs into a paste and use it to paint a small section purple.
We get many questions about how to get involved in decorating the floats. Shifts are minimum 8-hours long and do require physical abilities to lift, stretch, and climb around the floats. You must be willing to complete the entire 8 hour shift, so this type of work isn't for everyone. Instead, consider touring the Float Barn and spending time observing and marveling at those who take on these creative tasks.
What to expect on Rose Parade Day..
Our Rose Parade and Rose Bowl & Parade packages start off with a grab and go breakfast at the hotel before we depart for Pasadena. It's an early day because the parade begins at 8am Pacific Time, and we need to be in our seats by 7:30am. We sit towards the beginning of the parade route, on Colorado Blvd., with the sun rising behind us for optimal float viewing.
The grandstands start at street level and go up only 12 rows, so every seat is a good one. The Rose Parade takes about 2 hours to pass by in front of us and will include the marching bands from both college teams playing in the Rose Bowl later in the day, along with several themed fan floats, the mascots, and cheerleaders, making the parade a fantastic pre-game day pep rally before the Granddaddy of them all later in the afternoon.
Post Parade Showcase / Floatfest
After the Rose Parade ends, our Rose Bowl guests will head to the pre-game party and CFP Quarterfinal Rose Bowl Game in separate buses while our Rose Parade guests will head to a lovely plated brunch served at one of our favorite restaurants. Enjoy dishes including bacon, eggs, and french toast or a Cali-burger, a Sports Traveler favorite! After lunch, we head to the grand finale for the day.. The Float Fest!!
Every single float that we saw in the Rose Parade will be parked in rows at the Float Fest, allowing guests to get up-close for pictures and viewing. The experience is magical and beautiful as you stroll alongside these exceptionally designed floats filled with flowers of every sort.
More about our Tournament of Roses or Rose Bowl & Parade Packages:
We stay in the beautiful seaside town of Marina del Rey, California, located between Venice and El Segundo, and close to LAX Airport. We are steps from the harbor for the NYE Fireworks and Glow Fest as well as the Playa Del Rey and Venice Beaches. Plus, we are in the heart of the shopping and dining area of the town. Our host hotel is the Hotel MdR Doubletree by Hilton. Enjoy the pool, onsite restaurant and bar, or just relax in your lovely room.
Exclusive LA City and Winery Tour!
Join us for four nights and start off your Rose Parade or Rose Bowl trip with an exclusive LA City Tour and Winery Experience at the San Antonio Winery - the oldest winery in Los Angeles and voted Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine! We will tour the LA area with our renowned local tour guide and stop at the winery for a luncheon, tour of the winery, followed by steward-led wine tastings.
We hope you can join us! View all our packages here >> https://www.sportstraveler.net/sports-events/college-football/tournament-of-roses-parade.html or call us at 1-888-654-7755.
