With rain forecast for the Rose Parade, Pasadena says no umbrellas allowed along route, urging ponchos instead

Planning on staying dry as you take in the floats and bands and floral pageantry of the 137th Rose Bowl in person? In anticipation of precipitation, the city of Pasadena reminds the hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors determined to line Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day that no umbrellas are allowed along the 5.5-mile parade route.

Not only would holding one hamper one’s ability to wave at grand marshal Magic Johnson or point to gasp-inducing elements of the 40 or so floats, most importantly, brollies would block the view of other spectators.

Parade organizers suggest using ponchos or rain jackets instead (easily available at local stores and perhaps enterprising vendors on a convenient Pasadena corner).

• Also see: Shhhh! It’s looking like rain on the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1

The last time it rained on Pasadena’s iconic parade was 2006, when the theme was “It’s Magical,” an echo of this year’s “The Magic in Teamwork.” Umbrellas were decidedly not in fashion then too, but parade attendees then report all the moisture didn’t dampen their Rose Parade spirit.

Jena Walker of Louisville, Kentucky, reported for duty at La Cañada Flintridge’s Rose Parade float yard in that city on Dec. 29, fully prepared for conditions that out-of-state visitors don’t expect from sunny Southern California.

Walker said she offered her decorating services to about eight Rose Parade float associations and La Canada was the only one to call and email her, making her a lifelong fan of the city.

“So I was in, I became a member, got their newsletters, and bought the tickets for the parade and the game,” she said. A little precipitation isn’t going to rain on her parade.

“I was born and raised in Indiana, my dad was an IU (Indiana University) grad,” Walker added. “Besides, someone told me today to think of it this way: I get the unique experience of seeing California in the rain. So I’m going with that.”