With the 137th Rose Parade just two days away, Pasadena is buzzing with a full schedule of pre-parade events on Monday, December 29. From float decorating and equestrian shows to marching band performances, residents and visitors have a wide array of opportunities to get a sneak peek of the New Year’s Day festivities.
These events, a long-standing tradition in the city, offer a behind-the-scenes look at the immense effort and artistry that go into creating the world-renowned parade. This year’s lineup of activities on December 29th includes float decorating at multiple locations, the equestrian spectacle of Equestfest, the musical showcase of Bandfest at Pasadena City College, and a special fundraising party for South Pasadena’s self-built float.
Decorating Places: The Final Touches
One of the most popular pre-parade activities, Decorating Places, allows the public to watch as thousands of volunteers work to apply the final floral touches to the massive parade floats. This event takes place at two locations, with the Pasadena venue providing a local opportunity to witness the magic up close.
Tickets are available for purchase online through Sharp Seating Company, and children 5 and under are admitted for free. The Rosemont Pavilion is also accessible via Metro Gold Line, Metro Bus, and the Pasadena ARTS Bus Line.
At the Rosemont Pavilion in Pasadena, float builder Artistic Entertainment Services (AES) is decorating 16 floats, including entries for Star Trek, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, OneLegacy Donate Life, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Princess Cruises, Louisiana Office of Tourism, The UPS Store, Visit Mississippi, Go Bowling, Travel South Dakota, and Honda, plus the two Rose Bowl Game team floats.
Out in Irwindale, Phoenix Decorating Company is working on 14 floats, including those for Lions International, Kaiser Permanente, Trader Joe’s, Rotary International, the Queens-Rose Court, City of Alhambra, City of Hope, and Shriners Children’s. Fiesta Productions is also decorating floats including the America250 float, San Francisco Travel Association, and City of Torrance’s “Together in Harmony.”
Equestfest: A Showcase of Horsemanship
For those who admire the majestic equestrian units of the Rose Parade, Equestfest offers a chance to see them perform up close. Held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, this family-friendly event features drills, dances, and trick riding from 17 equestrian groups.
“Each year, the Rose Parade’s equestrian units showcase their breeds and demonstrate their talent with performances at Equestfest,” the Tournament of Roses said in a statement.
The event also includes musical performances, an appearance from the Rose Court, and food and drink vendors. Attendees can view equestrian units during warm-up and interact with horses and riders. A clear bag policy is in effect. Tickets from Sharp Seating Co.
Among the 17 performing groups are the 1st Cavalry Division, Horse Cavalry Detachment from Fort Hood, Texas, the Budweiser Clydesdales from St. Louis, the Hawaii Pa’u Riders from Waimānalo, the Los Hermanos Bañuelos Charro Team from Altadena, and Pasadena’s own The Valley Hunt Club, which sponsored the very first Rose Parade in 1890.
Bandfest: The Sound of the Rose Parade
Pasadena City College will host the first of three Bandfest events on Monday, where the 19 marching bands selected for the Rose Parade will perform their field shows. This is a chance to hear the powerful music and see the intricate choreography that will be on display on New Year’s Day.
Tickets are sold online through Sharp Seating Company, with no sales onsite. Each Bandfest performance runs approximately two and a half hours.
Bandfest I Lineup – Monday, December 29:
Rushmore Cervantes, who chairs the Music Committee for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, described the significance of the event in a statement to the Pasadena Star-News: “Bandfest is a great opportunity to see some of the best musicians and bands in the world perform intricate and entertaining musical field shows.”
South Pasadena’s Crunch Time Party
In South Pasadena, the community is rallying to support its city’s self-built float, “The Great Picnic Heist.” The South Pasadena Tournament of Roses (SPTOR) is hosting its annual Crunch Time Party, a fundraiser to help cover the costs of the float, which is the oldest self-built entry in the parade.
This event offers a more intimate, community-focused way to participate in the Rose Parade excitement while supporting a cherished local tradition. More information is available at sptor.org.
