Your last-minute Rose Parade 2025 survival guide: What you need to know

On Wednesday, mum’s the word.

The whole darned world is about to turn its attention away from fierce political debate, the price of car insurance and and the NFL playoff scenarios and focus for two solid hours on chrysanthemums, pampas grass, poppy seeds and, oh yeah, roses.

The Rose Parade will return to Pasadena on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 (for those of you who still write checks by hand, a reminder on the “25” part). Along with all those posie-packed floats will come marching bands with way more energy than anyone should have at sunrise, high-stepping horses, the new queen and her princess posse and lots more bright-shiny stuff.

And, sure, you’re going to watch. Here are some key last-minute steps for you, whether you’re planning on watching from Colorado Boulevard or that comfy shape your posterior has made in the sofa over the years.

Behold the basics.

What: 136th Rose Parade Presented by Honda

When: 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1

Where: The 5.5-mile parade route begins at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena and concludes at Sierra Madre Boulevard and East Villa Street.

Watching from home?

Now, if you’re just going to stay home, perched close to Mr. Coffee and his pals, the cruller sisters, here’s what you need to know: The parade will air live on KTLA-5, KABC-7, KNBC-4, Great American Family, RFD-TV and, en espanol, Univision. It will also stream on Christmas Plus, Fubo and Pluto.

KTLA, as always, will repeat the broadcast multiple times for folks who slept in or had to run out and address a power outage, make the donuts or some other thankless early-morning job.

What time does the parade end?

If you’re at home, the broadcast ends around 10 a.m. If you’re on the parade line, remember it takes about an hour and 47 minutes for that first entry to make it to the end of the route. And folks at home don’t get to sit in traffic afterward. Dang.

What about the Ducks and Bucks?

The Rose Bowl football game will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. from — where else? — the Rose Bowl Stadium vis ABC and ESPN with a stream on WatchESPN. Sling TV, Hulu, YouTube TV, Fubo and others will post the coverage so long as you paid for a streaming plan.

This year, the game is the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, pitting the top-seeded Oregon Ducks against the No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s a rematch —  Ducks beat the Buckeyes in a 32–31 nail-biter on Oct. 12.

The winner this time advances to the championship semifinal. The loser flies home to a much colder place. Well, yeah, they both will, actually.

Now, if you’re actually headed to watch the joy erupt live and in person…

Bring your shades.

The sun will rise at 6:58 a.m., just about an hour before Kiesza and Aloe Blacc start singing.

Bring your shades, they will be backed by 20 dancers in “shimmering, reflective costumes.

And don’t be startled, around the same time the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, will soar overhead. Though it won’t be covered in Vanda Orchids, it’s still a stirring site.

Bring the sweater. Leave the umbrella.

And maybe a carafe full of hot coffee. But, like usual, you likely won’t need your raincoat.

The temperature at sunrise will be about 50 degrees. That’s brisk for us Southern Californians, but in Mankato, Erie and Bozeman, they’ll gonna be snickering about how we shiver, and, as usual, jealous as all get-out.

Bring a calculator.

This year’s Rose Parade will use more than 3 million flowers. So if you plan to count all those petals, you’re gonna need help.

(Spoiler: For the record, there will be 39 floats, 16 equestrian teams and 24 marching bands, so you can skip the slide rule.)

Related: Rose Parade 2025 — Your guide to every float, band and equestrian unit, in order

How about my drone?

Not allowed. It’s a no-drone zone, for safety’s sake. Your selfies are going to have to be earthbound.

Need a parking space?

Reserved parking (autos, buses and RVs) for both the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game is available for purchase through the following:

• AP Parking: ap-parking.myfreesites.net;
• City of Pasadena: 626-744-7665, cityofpasadena.net/transportation;
• Colorado Boulevard Parking: 858-692-0868 or 858-833-0446, ap-parking.myfreesites.net;
• Easy Parking Service: 626-286-7576;
• LAZ Parking: 626-578-1705, lazparking.com/locations/rose-bowl-parking; and
• Sharp Seating Company: 626-795-4171, sharpseating.com.

Paid parking also is offered on a first-come, first-served basis at various lots and parking structures near the parade route.

Note: Overnight parking on Pasadena streets begins at noon the day before the parade, and continues for that evening only.

All “No Parking” areas and red curb zones remain off-limits, and vehicles in violation will be subject to impound and a fine.

There is no parking allowed on the parade route itself. Illegally parked vehicles will be impounded.

Take the bus … or train.

Metro’s Gold Line has transit connections to the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Game and other Tournament of Roses events. Information: metro.net

These stations offer the best access to the parade route:

• Del Mar Station: Walk two blocks north to the parade route.
• Memorial Park Station: Walk two blocks south to the parade route.
• Lake Station: Walk four blocks south to the parade route.
• Allen Station: Walk four blocks south to the parade route.

Parking is available at many Metro Rail stations, including Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles; some lots are paid while others are free.

Metro also will provide regular bus service to areas near the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Game and post-parade areas. Buses originate from locations throughout Los Angeles County.

For real-time updates on Metro service, follow @metrolaalerts and @metrolosangeles on Twitter. For more information, call 323-466-3876 (323-GoMetro)

Metrolink offers rides from San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties to Tournament of Roses events via Union Station, where riders can transfer to the Metro Gold Line. (Metrolink tickets include free transfers to connecting trains and buses.)

Information: metrolinktrains.com, or follow @Metrolink on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Driving in? Watch for closures.

The Pasadena Police Department will be closing the Rose Parade route early to vehicular traffic to enhance public safety measures.

Route closures will take effect beginning at 10 p.m. the night before the parade through 2 p.m. the following day, along Colorado Boulevard, from Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard, and northbound on Sierra Madre to Paloma Street.

Related: How law enforcement plans to keep visitors safe at Pasadena’s Rose Parade and Rose Bowl

Follow the rules.

There are lots of things you can and can’t do. Don’t do the things your shouldn’t but go ahead and do the stuff you should.

And if anyone asks, tell them we told you to behave yourself.

Five things that are OK:

1. A position on the sidewalk along the parade route may be maintained starting at noon the day before the parade. Blankets, chairs and other items must remain on the sidewalk until 11 p.m., when spectators may move out to the blue “honor line,” but not past it.
2. Overnight camping the night before the parade.
3. Small, professionally manufactured barbecues elevated at least 1 foot off the ground are allowed as long as they are at least 25 feet from buildings and any combustibles. A fire extinguisher must be readily available.
4. Minors under the age of 18 may be on the parade route from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. only if they are supervised by an adult.
5. Bundle up and remember hats and gloves; drink healthy fluids and consume nourishing meals to avoid dehydration.

And five things that are not OK:

1. Tents, sofas and boxes of any type that can be used as stools or seats are prohibited.
2. Unoccupied chairs are not allowed. Don’t try to save space for your brother in law, he’s probably watching at Denny’s.
3. Bonfires and all fireworks are strictly prohibited; open containers of alcohol are illegal on sidewalks, streets and other public areas.
4. No items may be sold along the parade route without a city permit.
5. No ladders or scaffolding may be used as elevation for viewing activities. And don’t climb the traffic signals. Sheesh, what would your mom say?

Want to see the floats up close and standing still?

Use your pause button and zoom function. Or trek to Floatfest — your chance to see the floats traveling at 0 MPH. It will be at the intersection of Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards. The schedule:

• Jan. 1: 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 pm (ticket sales end at 3:30 pm, last entry at 4 p.m.)
• Jan. 2: 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. (reserved for seniors & people with mobility disabilities)
• Jan. 2: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (ticket sales end at 3:30 pm, last entry at 4 p.m.)
• Jan. 3: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (ticket sales end at 2:30 pm, last entry at 3 p.m.)

Tickets are $25; children 5 and under are free.

For you foodies out there, look for the food trucks to satisfy that post–parade appetite.

Still need answers?

If this treatise didn’t answer all your questions, here’s where to get even more information:

• Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau: Rose Parade hotline 877-793-9911, main number 626-793-2122
• X (formerly Twitter): Follow the City of Pasadena (@PasadenaGov), the Pasadena Fire and Police departments (@PasadenaFD and @PasadenaPD), Tournament of Roses (@RoseParade) and the Pasadena Star-News (@PasStarNews).
• Pasadena Star-News: Free app (iOS and Android) offers breaking and local news along with restaurant reviews, weather, sports and entertainment reports. The newspaper is part of Southern California News Group. For complete Rose Parade coverage, visit pasadenastarnews.com/rose-parade.

Best snack?

That’s a personal choice. After a few moments of reflection, we are confident you will be able to choose between a corgi-sized breakfast burrito and one of those cinnamon rolls that’s larger than a spare tire. But don’t, at all costs, forget the cocoa.