With the 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda just two days away, Pasadena will host the final day of public preview events on Tuesday, December 30, giving residents and visitors their last opportunities to watch floats being decorated and see the parade’s marching bands perform their award-winning field shows.
Two major events anchor the day’s activities: the conclusion of Decorating Places at the Rosemont Pavilion, where volunteers are applying the final floral touches to 16 parade floats, and the second day of Bandfest at Pasadena City College, featuring two separate performances by marching bands from across the United States and Japan.
Decorating Places: Final Day at Rosemont Pavilion
The final day of Decorating Places runs from 10:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. at the Rosemont Pavilion, 700 Seco Street, Pasadena. Last entry is at 5:00 p.m. This year, the Rosemont Pavilion is the sole public viewing location because the Rose Float Plaza South in Irwindale is closed to the public from December 28 through December 31, according to Sharp Seating Company.
At the Rosemont Pavilion, Artistic Entertainment Services (AES) is completing work on 16 floats. According to a report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the AES lineup includes entries for Star Trek, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the California Community Foundation, OneLegacy Donate Life, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Princess Cruises, Louisiana Office of Tourism, The UPS Store, Visit Mississippi, Go Bowling, Travel South Dakota, the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, and Honda, as well as floats for the two teams playing in the Rose Bowl Game.
Tickets are $21.50 and are sold online only through Sharp Seating Company. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in lots near the Rosemont Pavilion and Jackie Robinson Baseball Field, according to the Tournament of Roses.
Bandfest: Two Shows at Pasadena City College
The second day of Bandfest, presented by REMO, will feature two separate performances at Robinson Stadium on the campus of Pasadena City College, located at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. The event showcases the field shows of the 19 marching bands selected to perform in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
“Bandfest is a great opportunity to see some of the best musicians and bands in the world perform intricate and entertaining musical field shows,” said Rushmore Cervantes, the Music Committee Chair for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, in a statement to the Pasadena Star-News. “In the global marching band community, being selected to participate in the Rose Parade is the highest achievement. It is the equivalent to their Super Bowl or World Cup.”
Bandfest II – 10:00 a.m.(Preshow at 9:30 AM)
The morning show features six bands:
The Greendale High School Marching Band has won 20 consecutive Wisconsin School Music Association State Championships since 2005. According to the Pasadena Star-News, the band’s show is titled “Snow Angel” and features music from the Frozen movies. Co-director Tom Reifenberg told the newspaper that the band has 200 students from a school of 880 in suburban Milwaukee.
Bandfest III – 2:00 p.m. (Preshow at 1:30 p.m.)
The afternoon show features seven bands:
The Allen Eagle Escadrille from Allen, Texas, is likely the largest band participating in the Rose Parade, with approximately 600 students, according to the Pasadena Star-News. The United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band is returning to the parade after a hiatus.
Tickets for Bandfest are $26.50 and are sold online only through Sharp Seating Company. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Free parking is available in the Lot 4 parking structure on Del Mar Avenue.
Event Summary
All tickets are sold online only. No cash or credit sales are available onsite. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free to all events.
The 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda, themed “The Magic in Teamwork,” will take place on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at 8:00 a.m.
