Rose Parade starts off the California New Year
The Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., is a trim jumble of cheering crowds, marching bands, waving arms, colorful floats and flowers — lots and lots of flowers — all under a California blue sky. Each of the floats have to be covered by natural or organic material, which includes flowers, seeds and leaves. The annual ritual, which precedes the “grandaddy” of college football, the Rose Bowl, can trace its beginning to 1890 as part of an effort to promote the “Mediterranean of the West.”
- The United Sikh Mission float “A Sikh-American Journey” moves down Colorado Boulevard in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- Marching bands and floats make their way down Colorado Boulevard at the start of the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- The Disneyland Resort “Diamond Celebration” float, winner of the Extraordinaire Trophy, appears in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.(AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- Singpoli Group’s “Marco Polo East Meets West” wins the Sweepstakes Trophy in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- Parade spectators watch as airplane sky writers write a message “America is great! Trump is disgusting” above the parade route during the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- Acrobats on the Theme Banner float “Find Your Adventure” sway over the crowd on flexible poles during the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- The Stanford University Cardinal Marching Band performs in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- The University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band marches down Colorado Boulevard in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- The Aguilas Doradas marching band from the Centro Escolar Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon in Puebla, Mexico, marches in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.(AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- Rose Queen Erika Winter rides on a float in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, center, rides the Los Angeles Lakers “Every Second is an Adventure” float during the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.(AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- Actress, dancer, singer, and former Laker Girl, Paul Abdul waves from the Los Angeles Lakers’ float during the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.(AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- The Punahou School marching band and dancers from Honolulu perform in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.(AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
- The Rose Bowl Stanford University float moves down Colorado Boulevard in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.(AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)