Thousands of spectators gathered along Colorado Boulevard on Thursday morning as the 137th Rose Parade began under steady rain—an unusually wet start for the New Year celebration in Pasadena. The procession kicked off at 8 a.m., with heavy showers already measured across the region: eastern Pasadena recorded 1.12 inches over the two prior days and downtown Los Angeles 0.94 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the downpour and forecasts that included thunderstorms, families, volunteers and performers pressed on, making adjustments from ponchos to tarps to keep the show moving. The parade ran roughly two hours and closed roads were scheduled to reopen by 2 p.m.
Key Takeaways
- The 137th Rose Parade started at 8 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, and continued for about two hours along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena.
- This is the first rainy Rose Parade in 20 years and the 11th rainy occurrence since the event began in 1890.
- As of 4 a.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service reported 1.12 inches of rain in eastern Pasadena and 0.94 inches in downtown Los Angeles.
- The Weather Service forecast included up to 1.53 inches for the period, with showers and a chance of thunderstorms through the morning.
- Longtime fans camped overnight along the route; one spectator, Tracy Tankersley, guarded 15 lawn chairs after driving from San Diego.
- The Cal Poly Universities float won the Sweepstakes Award (most beautiful entry); the San Francisco Travel Association float took this year’s Extraordinaire Award.
- Parade logistics adapted to the wet conditions: some viewers used improvised waterproofing and vendors sold food despite the cold, with tamales reported selling well.
Background
The Rose Parade originated in 1890 as a promotional festival organized by the Valley Hunt Club to showcase Pasadena’s mild winter climate and local blooms. Early floats were horse-drawn and covered in flowers; the event evolved into a civic spectacle that pairs floral pageantry with marching bands and community organizations. Rain on New Year’s Day is historically rare in the region: the National Weather Service notes rain on just about 10% of New Year’s Days from 1878 through 2025. The wettest observed New Year’s Day in Pasadena was 1934, when 3.12 inches fell.
Until this year, the last rainy parade occurred in 2006, an event that led to mechanical issues for several floats and more complicated logistics for marching units and organizers. Tournament of Roses organizers, municipal officials and public-safety teams plan the parade each year around expected dry conditions; weather departures therefore require last-minute operational adjustments for floats, performers and street closures. Local vendors and longtime attendees factor such contingencies into their preparations, but an actual rainy parade still tests the event’s infrastructure and traditions.
Main Event
The procession began on schedule with a full complement of floats, bands and celebrity participants despite the wet conditions. Spectators lined bridges and sidewalks—many wearing ponchos and using umbrellas—while volunteers made last-minute coverings for delicate floral elements. Vintage vehicles and familiar characters, including Disney icons, proceeded along the route with added protective measures such as raised tops and ponchos for costumed performers. Earvin “Magic” Johnson, serving as parade marshal, rode in a vintage car decorated with floral basketballs and waved from an open window outfitted to limit rain exposure.
Families and groups that ordinarily camp out in large numbers found sparser crowds in some segments, while other viewing points filled with determined fans. Michael Brooks, a 41-year-old from Monterey Park who had secured a front-row spot for his family, described it as a long-awaited first in-person experience and stayed despite the steady rain. Vendors adapted to the chill—one group of women from the San Fernando Valley reported rising at 2 a.m. to sell roughly 600 tamales along the route for $5 each, and expected to sell out by midday.
Organizers and municipal crews coordinated road closures overnight on Wednesday and planned to reopen those streets by about 2 p.m. The National Weather Service continued to warn of lingering showers and a chance of thunderstorms through the morning hours, prompting on-the-ground teams to monitor float mechanics, marching formations and safety protocols as the parade progressed. Overall, the procession completed its roughly two-hour run without any widely reported major incidents.
Analysis & Implications
A rainy Rose Parade alters the calculus for float builders, marching bands and emergency planners. Floats are built with delicate floral and mechanical components that respond poorly to prolonged moisture; protections such as tarps and covers can mitigate damage but also change visual presentation and weight distribution. Marching bands and performers must balance costume visibility with safety and mobility when surfaces are slick, and medical teams typically increase readiness for weather-related ailments such as hypothermia or slips.
For the Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena, this parade provides a stress test of contingency procedures developed for infrequent but high-impact deviations from the region’s usual weather. Economic ripple effects are mixed: vendors who adapt well can see healthy sales despite smaller crowds in some areas, while some hospitality and sidewalk-reliant businesses may record lower short-term foot traffic. Television and digital viewership help offset local attendance variability, but live-in-person traditions are a major part of the parade’s cultural value.
On a broader level, a rainy New Year’s Day highlights how rare weather outcomes can still shape annual traditions. Planners for other outdoor signature events in the region may revisit protocols around float weatherproofing, volunteer staffing and public-safety communications. If wet New Year’s events become more frequent, organizers could pursue structural changes—such as revised float materials standards or additional covered viewing zones—to preserve spectacle while reducing weather vulnerability.
Comparison & Data
| Year | Pasadena Jan. 1 Rain (inches) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 3.12 | Historic maximum for New Year’s Day in Pasadena |
| 2006 | Rain (amount varied) | Earlier rainy parade; several floats reported mechanical issues |
| 2026 | 1.12 (eastern Pasadena, prior 48 hrs); forecast up to 1.53 | First rainy parade in 20 years; continued showers and thunderstorm risk |
The table places the 2026 rainfall in historical context. While 1.12 inches measured in eastern Pasadena is well below the 1934 event, it is significant for a celebration designed around mild, dry winters. Forecast guidance that suggested up to 1.53 inches reinforced the need for active weather mitigation across parade floats and marching units. Comparisons to 2006 focus more on operational impacts—float stalls and logistical headaches—than on precise accumulated totals, which varied by local pocket of precipitation.
Reactions & Quotes
Spectators and participants framed the wet parade as both an inconvenience and a memorable variation on a centuries-old tradition.
“I was not going to miss this opportunity,”
Michael Brooks, Monterey Park spectator
Brooks had secured a front-row spot for his family and described the rain as a challenge rather than a deterrent to celebrating in person.
“It proved me wrong,”
Tracy Tankersley, longtime attendee
Tankersley, who guarded 15 lawn chairs after driving in from San Diego, said she long hoped for clear skies but nonetheless valued the family reunion atmosphere amid the damp conditions.
“Gotta stay dry,”
Jeff Landis, Glendale parent
Landis described improvised waterproofing—trash-bag coverings for his children—as a practical response to the day’s weather and an attempt to keep spirits high despite the chill.
Unconfirmed
- Comprehensive final rain totals across all parade zones for the full event period were not yet compiled publicly at the time of reporting.
- There were no immediate official tallies confirming whether any floats this year experienced mechanical failures similar to those reported in 2006.
- Full attendance figures for in-person viewers along the route have not been released and remain estimates based on crowd observations and broadcast viewership.
Bottom Line
The 137th Rose Parade demonstrated the resilience of a long-standing public spectacle when confronted with an uncommon weather event. Organizers, participants and spectators adapted in real time—deploying covers, adjusting routes and leaning on tradition—to keep the pageant moving. While the rainfall did not reach the historic highs of 1934, it served as a reminder that even deeply entrenched outdoor traditions must maintain robust contingency planning.
Looking ahead, Tournament of Roses officials and city planners are likely to review this year’s operational choices for lessons on float weatherproofing, crowd communications and vendor logistics. For attendees, the wet parade will remain a distinctive New Year’s memory; for organizers, it is a practical case study in preserving spectacle under changing and sometimes unpredictable conditions.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times (news report)
- National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard (official forecast and rainfall observations)
- Tournament of Roses (official history and event information)