Guide To The 2014 Annual Tournament Of Roses Parade

The 125th Annual Tournament of Roses
Date: January 1, 2014 at 8am (PST)
Where: Pasadena, CA

Held every year on the 1st of January, The 125th Annual Tournament of Roses for 2014 is no exception. Presented by Honda, the parade will be held on Wednesday January 1st 2014 at 8am (PST).Originally started on January 1, 1890, the Rose Parade is now watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators on TV and on the parade route. It was originally created to be an American version of the festival of roses in Nice, France and it featured flower decorated horses and buggies and an afternoon full of public games (such as foot races, tug of war and jousts) on the "town lot" just east of Los Robles between Colorado Street and Santa Fe. Since then, it has become a time honored American tradition celebrating the New Year. The annual Rose Parade is a greeting to the world on the first day of the year and a salute to community spirit.

The theme of the 125th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade this year is "Dreams Come True" which is a reminder of the American spirit and ability to achieve the impossible. The parade will feature 46 exquisitely floral decorated floats, vigorous marching bands, and noble equestrian units that will march down the 5 ½ mile route on Colorado Boulevard. Chosen for his humility and integrity, two highly valued American assets, this year's Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade is none other than legendary American sports icon Vin Scully.

Twenty-four of the 46 decorated floats entered in the parade will receive awards in a variety of categories and specifications. This year's Rose Parade float judges, selected by the Tournament of Roses are Cheryl Cecchetto, James Folsom and René van Rems. Scores for the floats will be based on criteria such as creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation and dramatic impact.

Grandstand seating is available for purchase for the parade. Persons aged 2 years and up must have a ticket. Curbside viewing is also available on a first come first serve basis with parties being allowed to reserve curbside seating starting at noon the day before the parade. Visit www.tournamentofroses.com for tips, official rules and regulations.