[Eddie Rivera/Pasadena Now]
On Friday, January 2, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Floatfest becomes an exclusive venue for seniors and disabled visitors. Free shuttle service departs from Pasadena City College at 1570 E. Colorado Boulevard and the Pasadena City College Extension Lot at 3035 E. Foothill Boulevard, with priority service from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. for seniors and people with disabilities, then continuing from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for all visitors.
The event sprawls across Sierra Madre Boulevard and Washington Boulevard in Pasadena. Standard admission costs $26.50, with children five and under admitted free. General hours run 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 1, and Saturday, January 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors should plan at least two hours and wear comfortable shoes. The terrain can challenge strollers and mobility devices, though both are permitted. A clear bag policy permits only transparent bags. Skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, tricycles, Segways, wagons, and pets—except service animals—are prohibited.
The Tournament provides American Sign Language interpreters for guests with hearing impairments. Food trucks from several of Los Angeles’s top vendors line Sierra Madre Boulevard near Gate A. The 2026 lineup includes Pasadena City College’s “Jungle Jumpstart,” the Downey Rose Float Association’s “The Glow of Achievement,” and Travel South Dakota’s “Carved in Stone: A Legacy of Teamwork.”
Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase will run on Jan. 1-3, 2026, at 1:30-5 p.m. Jan. 1, 7-9 a.m. (seniors/disabled only) and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 2, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 3. Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards, Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 795-4171 or visit https://tournamentofroses.com/event/floatfest-a-rose-parade-showcase/.
