Rose Parade Fun Facts

With a 123-year history, the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. holds special memories for all of us and is part of the fabric of our American heritage.  Dr. Francis Rowland and professor Charles Holder from the Valley Hunt Club created the floral celebration in 1890 to attract attention to the mild winter climate in Southern California.  Said to be inspired by the “Battle of the Flowers” in Nice, France, it began as a procession of flower-covered carriages with games including foot races, tug-of-war contests and sack races.  Only 2,000 were in attendance in 1890 - over 1 million line the parade route today.

Did you know:

• Never on Sunday. In 1893 officials decided to move the parade to Monday, Jan. 2, to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches. January 1st has fallen on a Sunday 18 times: 1893, 1899, 1905, 1911, 1922, 1928, 1933, 1939, 1950, 1956, 1961, 1967, 1978, 1984, 1989, 1995, 2006, and 2012.

• It has rained only 10 times in 123 years on parade day.  It rained in 2006 for the first time in 51 years – on Monday, Jan. 2

• Motorized vehicles appeared at the parade for the first time in 1901 but had to appear at the end of the parade so they wouldn’t frighten the horses.

• College football wasn’t introduced until 1902 when the University of Michigan beat Stanford 40-0. Football was abandoned the following year in favor of chariot races and didn’t reappear until 1923 at the new stadium built by the Tournament of Roses, the Rose Bowl. In 1913 Ostrich races provide the dominate competition and the first and only elephant-camel races take place - elephant wins.

• The first Grand Marshall from outside of Pasadena was in the 1930 parade – San Francisco Mayor James Rolph. In 1933, silent film star Mary Pickford became the first Hollywood celebrity and first woman to be named Grand Marshall.

• It takes over 600 tons of steel, 5,000 gallons of glue and 18 million flowers to create the modern day floats.

• Colorado Boulevard is Pasadena’s main thoroughfare and a segment of route US 66.

• A typical float is covered in more flowers than an average florist uses in 5 years.  Every float must only be covered with natural material such as flowers, leaves, seaweed, seeds, bark, and vegetables.

• The first band to play in the parade was the Monrovia Town Band in 1891. The Salvation Army Band is longest participating band marching every year since 1920.

• In 1998, the Washington Township High School Minutemen Marching Band from Sewell, New Jersey became the first band in the history of the Rose Parade to decorate its entire ranks with live flowers.

You can see the 124th Rose Parade in person by joining the AAA Escortedl Rose Parade Tour. The tour departs from Arizona offices Dec. 28 and includes sightseeing in the area, parade-barn tour, special New Year’s Eve dinner-dance party, and so much more.

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