America’s National Parks and America’s New Year Celebration Team Up for Adventure in 2016

The National Park Service and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® today announced a collaboration between the two organizations, in honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial in 2016.

“We are delighted to form this historic partnership that will bring about a great level of visibility to the National Park Service on the first day of our centennial year,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Our relationship is a tribute to our mutual commitment to engaging America’s youth, supporting an ethic of volunteerism and embracing diversity of American culture.”

Because of this alliance, the Tournament of Roses announced the theme “Find Your Adventure” for the 127th Rose Parade. The Rose Parade will take place Friday, January 1, 2016 in Pasadena, Calif. and will be followed by the 102nd Rose Bowl Game.

The Rose Parade is a part of America’s New Year Celebration – a treasured tradition that attracts millions of television viewers annually around the world. Rose Parade float designers will be encouraged to use the National Park Service’s natural, cultural and historic sites and cultural programs as inspiration for their floral masterpieces.

“As proponents of the American spirit, the Tournament of Roses encourages people to find beauty in the landscape that builds the backdrop of their lives,” said 2016 Tournament of Roses President Mike Matthiessen. “By teaming up with the National Park Service, we hope to illuminate how communities across the country can uncover enriching adventures.”

The “Find Your Adventure” theme is a nod to “Find Your Park,” a two-year, public engagement campaign in which the National Park Service and National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, aim to increase awareness and excitement about the National Park Service’s Centennial celebration. The Rose Parade is just one of the ways the National Park Service will kick off a second century – which officially begins on August 25, 2016 – of protecting treasured places, telling American stories, and engaging communities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs.

About the National Park Service

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 405 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl Game® and a variety of associated events. The Tournament’s 935 volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization within the community and serve on one of 31 committees that ensure the success of the parade and game. Collectively, they contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year. The 127th Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed “Find Your Adventure,” will take place Friday, January 1, 2016, followed by the 102nd Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual.