For the 136th time, Pasadena, California, hosts the Rose Parade. The colorful and glittering celebration marks the beginning of each year with flowers, floats, marching bands and performers from across the globe.
Also see: Our complete guide to the Rose Parade
A few things to know about this year’s parade:
Starting around 8 a.m. local time, 24 marching bands, 16 equestrian groups and 39 floats decorated with an array of flowers will take part in the 5.5 mile parade route.
Tennis legend and social justice icon Billie Jean King is the grand marshal. King attended high school about 30 miles south of Pasadena in Long Beach and is an alumna of nearby Cal State L.A.
The theme for this year’s Rose Parade is “Best Day Ever!” It was selected by Tournament of Roses President Ed Morales and his family.
Also see: The Rose Parade Lineup: Your guide to every float, band and equestrian unit, in order
Our team of reporters and photographers is fanning out across the parade route to provide coverage you won’t see on TV. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter:
Teresa Liu: @yinmengliu25
Anissa Rivera: @AnissaRiv0901
Steve Scauzillo: @stevscaz
Mercedes Cannon-Tran: @MCannonTran
Christina Merino: @christinam_love
Tyler Evains: @TylerShaunE
We’ll be updating this story with reporting from the parade route throughout the morning:
Meeting of the mayors
Mayor Samantha Smith of Guanajuato, Mexico, presented the Rose Court and local officials with gifts and an open invitation to visit Guanajuato at their convenience. (Photo, Christina Merino)
The pre-parade pleasantries featured a meeting of the mayors. Just an hour before the 2025 Rose Parade began on Wednesday morning, Mayor Samantha Smith of Guanajuato, Mexico, presented the Rose Court and local officials will gifts and an open invitation to visit Guanajuato at their convenience.
At the Tournament House, Rose Queen Lindsay Charles was set to receive official scarves and a pin, and the Queen and whole court received an invitation to visit Guanajuato anytime they want), according to Rene Gonzalez, chair of Guanajuato Proposed Affiliation Group, which is spearheading the efforts to establish a sister city relationship between Pasadena and Guanajuato.
Also see: Mexico mayor meets with Tournament of Roses
Ducks, Buckeyes ready for Rose Bowl game
It’s a big year for Ducks and Bucks. Fans of Oregon and Ohio State universities, who will clash in the Rose Bowl across ton at 2 p.m., are scattered along the parade route. Giselle Garay is a U of Oregon grad and brought her family to town to cheer on their Ducks. Above: “It’s a culture that kind of grows on you. It’s very welcoming. We recognize each other.”
Rose Parade unsung heroes
The unsung heroes of the Rose Parade are the white-suited volunteers who trail the equestrian units and scoop up their, er, gifts to the event. Pooper Scooper Peggy O’Leary been doing this job for 34 years. “I love it. It’s the highlight of my year, “ said the South Pasadena resident, brandishing her formidable shovel.
7:30 a.m. Vendors offering visitors tasty, warm treats
At the corner of Arroyo Parkway and Colorado Boulevard Mario Rodriguez, of Los Angeles, set up shop selling champurrado, pan dulce, cafe olla and tamales.
His sing-song call attracts customers who fork over $4 for a warming cup of coffee. Rodriguez said business is good.
Near the end of the parade route spectators are holding down their spots under the 210 freeway between Maple and Corson Streets. The parade begins at 8 a.m., but it’ll be at least a couple of hours after that before any floats reach this point.
Parade-goer Carol Caplon said she typically arrives around 10 am to catch the end of route, setting up homemade wooden chairs on the brick right under the 210 ramp. Today, though, she’s here early to save an accessible spot for her brother who uses a wheelchair.
B-2 flyover set for just after 8 a.m.
Listen up, Southern California, and keep your eyes on the skies. The official flyover time for the B-2 Stealth bomber will be 8:06 a.m., officials said Wednesday morning. The B-2 – based out of Whiteman AFB in Missouri — is scheduled to soar over Colorado Boulevard, leaving spectators awestruck, just as it has for the past several years.
Also see: Did you hear that? The B-2 is back
Running into the New Year
For the second year in a row the Lululemon-sponsored “Run With the Roses” 5K was a sellout among runners, joggers and walkers. There were many smiling faces as the race got underway. (Photo by Jarret Liotta)
Hours before the Rose Parade was set to roll, throngs of runners ran their way into 2025 For the second year in a row the Lululemon-sponsored “Run With the Roses” 5K was a sellout among runners, joggers and walkers. Along with participants, there were also hundreds of people in attendance that were already camped out along Colorado Avenue for the parade, who cheered the runners on fervently as they ran. There were many special reasons more than 2,500 people chose to start the new year with a midnight 5K run along the Tournament of Roses parade route in Pasadena, but for Alexandria Calopiz and Joe Isaac Becerra of Chino it was all about romance.
“I thought, ‘What better way to start off our wedding year than running a 5K when the ball drops,’” said Calopiz, who will wed Becerra on June 5, 2025. “What a way to start it — being active and just doing it together.”
7:10 a.m. Billie Jean King thrilled to serve as grand marshal
Was Billie Jean King thrilled to serve as Rose Parade grand marshal? You bet she was. It’s all about being a Southern California native, she said. “I am from Long Beach,” she said before the parade’s launch at the Tournament House. ” I went to Poly High,” she declared. “Our family, every Jan. 1 sat down to watch the Rose Parade together. This is special to me.”
The grand marshal, a sports icon and equal rights crusader, and her wife, Ilana Kloss, were about to step into a 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III to roll into the parade.With 50 million people across the globe tuning in, she’ll take a 5.5-mile slow drive along Colorado Boulevard, waving to thousands in person gathered to watch the 136th Tournament of Roses Parade.
Also see: Billie Jean King’s path to grand marshal
6:45 a.m. Pasadena offers condolences after New Orleans tragedy, assures local visitors
The Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena responded to the tragic news that emerged from New Orleans in the hours before the parade was to begin.
A suspect who drove a vehicle at high speed into a crowd of revelers was killed after a firefight with police, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press. Ten people were killed and 30 were injured in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district at 3:15 a.m. Wednesday along Bourbon Street.
The area is known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and with crowds in the city ballooning in anticipation for the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game at the nearby Superdome later in the day.
“The Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans following this morning’s tragic events,” a statement said. “We stand in solidarity with the entire state during this difficult time.”
The statement efforted to assure visitors that all safety precautions has been taken at the parade. “The City of Pasadena undergoes months of preparations leading up to the Parade and Game in coordination with our Federal, State, County and Local partners,” the statement said. “We continually train throughout the year with our Tournament of Roses and Rose Bowl Stadium partners for various scenarios.”
The statement added: “The parade is a top level Federal event and we have to ability to call in additional resources if the need exists. “We have a hard shut down of vehicles along the entire Parade route in addition to very robust vehicle barriers at intersections. over 1,000 law enforcement personnel are working the Parade and Game.”
Also see: Ten killed, 30 injured after vehicle rammed into revelers in New Orleans
6:35 a.m. Rose Court greets guests at Tournament House
Resplendent in the gowns they will wear aboard their float, the Rose Court greeted guests and made media appearances at the Tournament House. The parade will also be presided over by the 106th Rose Queen —Westridge School senior Lindsay Charles — and the six members of her Rose Court:
— Lisette Parker, a senior at Maranatha High School;
— Saniyah Brunston, a senior at John Muir High School;
— Lara Georgian, a senior at Mayfield Senior School;
— Natalia Pradhan, a senior at Flintridge Preparatory School;
— Simone Ball, a senior at Arcadia High School; and
— Kate Kelly, a senior at La Cañada High School. Charles said her greatest joy in serving as queen was meeting scores of people in the past few weeks, especially the children.
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