Watching on television in Kenner in the Sixties, I was enchanted with the Rose Parade. The floats are made out of roses? That’s impossible. I felt. But I always wanted to see it in person, and as soon as I knew what a bucket list was, the Rose Parade was on it. Watching those All-American bands march down that wide boulevard, their instruments catching the glorious California sun, I had to witness this in person.
2020 was it. My son and his wife gave me dates for a visit that began 1/1, and I knew I had to grab the chance. I would have to go alone, but it didn't matter. A bucket list is a bucket list. It would be close. My flight arrived at 8:30 so seeing any of it wasn't a given. I grabbed a taxi after three attempts at an Uber proved fruitless. Going to Pasadena on Rose Parade Day? What was I thinking?
Jumped in a taxi driven by a Bangladesh immigrant who was also a fan of the parade and he drove appropriately. We were there in no time, heading straight for Colorado Blvd. I had been warned by my son’s wife that grandstand tickets were required, but I didn’t purchase one ahead, figuring there had to be standing room space along the route and I didn’t want to buy a ticket and miss the parade. The concierge at my beloved Langham Hotel assured me I would miss it. I couldn’t leave Tom alone for New Year’s Eve so it had to be this way.
When a glance at Colorado revealed a place to watch and that the parade was still going, I jumped out and stood with my bags watching the parade. The crowd was not nearly as deep as a Mardi Gras parade, but I could still see bands and of course the floats as they came by. The scene reminded me of St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras. Family-oriented, with food cooking.
Here though, the only food being cooked was what seemed to be the signature dish of the parade (pictured), hot dog carts which amounted to a box with a cookie sheet heated by a burner. Underneath was a box of sausage wrapped in bacon and all the vegetables chopped for simmering beside it. The vendors had a unique way of selling. It was universal: “Hot Dogs! Hot Dogs! Hot Dogs! Get your hot dogs here!” In rapid-fire.
I realized why I have always wanted to see this in person. It is the quintessential All-America event. The bands are all high school bands with gleeful young kids in gleaming uniforms. Straight out of the middle of the century past. Some of those kids were from Gulfport, Mississippi.
My son and his family joined me later. We met at the Langham Hotel to look at the Christmas decorations, I took a picture with the kids in Santa's study, which was made entirely out of sugar. Large gingerbread blocks joined by icing. Decorations were gorgeous, and in the Langham signature color: pink. We had lunch at the most ordinary place, a newcomer to the dining scene in Pasadena, Urban Plates.
And then we went to the viewing of the floats. Here is where you can get a close-up look at these floral masterpieces. They are not made exclusively of flowers. And certainly not roses. (IG post tonight will have float pics) They are constructed by armies of volunteers who work round-the-clock for a time-limited 48 hours. There are other plants involved. Wheat grains, seaweed, and nuts and seeds galore, dyed with fruit juices. You could almost eat the floats, but why disturb such artistry? It must be painful to destroy them.
The float viewing is itself very festive, sans marching bands. The forty floats are lined up behind barricades, with an admission price of $20pp (kids 5 and under free.) This greatly reduces the crowds and allows visitors to talk to a volunteer who can explain what is in each float.
The carnival atmosphere has typically carnival food, like pretzels and churros from carts, and of course caramel corn, but there was also an unexpected food truck there. Pie’n’Burger, a Pasadena institution, has gotten with the times. (IG pic)
The weather could not have been any more perfectly Californian. This is old Pasadena at its best. A great way to start 2020. And one less thing on the bucket list. I didn’t see it all, but it was enough. If I get another chance to see it the “right way”, I’ll grab it. If not...check!
NOTE: If this is also on your list, definitely stay at The Langham Huntington Pasadena. This is one of my favorite hotels anywhere. It is the former party house for railroad magnate Henry Huntington, and is sort of Rose Bowl central. I love it year-round. Grandstand tickets and viewing tickets can be bought online. A well-prepared trip would be the best way, obviously.
