The Tournament of Roses Parade



The Rose Parade is a part of the annual “America’s New Year Celebration” held in Pasadena, California.

Originally started in 1890, this year’s Parade (2015) will be the 126th annual Rose Parade.

Rose Parade is well known for its flower-decorated floats, marching bands and equestrians.

In 1902, a Rose Bowl Game was added to the Rose Parade to help in funding the cost of staging the parade.

Every year the Rose Parade is watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators on the parade route and millions of other watch it LIVE on television as the parade is broadcast on multiple television networks in the United States. Apart from the United States, the parade is broadcast LIVE in more than 100 international territories and countries, from where it gets millions of worldwide viewers.

1982
In 1982 the theme of the parade was "Friends and Neighbors". An elaborate float featuring Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog was featured. Piggy was reclining on a chaise while Kermit, decked out in a top hat and bow tie, serenaded her on his banjo. Sweetums rode on the float, alongside several children. The float was sponsored by America's Credit Unions (CUNA) and was the first float in the parade, introducing the theme for the parade. The float was created with Chamois carnations for Miss Piggy's complexion, while Kermit was constructed from chopped chartreuse lichen moss over a foundation of sheet moss. The float included over 30,000 roses, including Royalty red and Bridal pink. The float itself was constructed by Fiesta Floats. The front of the float featured Fozzie Bear positioning his movie camera, hovering over the theme of "Friends and Neighbors." Among other noteworthy floats were Dr. Pepper's "Neighborhood Drive-In", Montebello California's "Good Ol' Fashioned Friendship" float featuring The Flintstones and Bank of America's "It's a Small World."

1990
In the 1990 parade, Miss Piggy and Kermit were featured once more; this time as the Transamerica Life Company's entry "Lassoed by Love". The 55-foot-long float was festooned with roses, daisies, mums and orchids, and featured a 34-foot-tall Miss Piggy made of carnations and roses, swinging her lasso at a moss-covered Kermit on a hobby horse.

1996
On January 1, 1996, Kermit the Frog was the Grand Marshal for the 107th Tournament of Roses Parade. He became the first non-human to host the event solo. The parade also featured a float based on Muppet Treasure Island. With a theme of "Kids' Laughter & Dreams" chosen that year, Steve Whitmire performed Kermit as he drove through the parade in the Grand Marshal's car. At MuppetFest in 2001, Whitmire said that day was the most difficult job he'd had with the Muppets; as he had to keep his arm up over his head for almost three hours. The Treasure Island float featured Kermit, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Statler and Waldorf, all in their Treasure Island personas. The float itself won the Humor Award for the most comical and amusing entry. The float itself was sponsored by Kodak. Other Grand Marshalls have included Shirley Temple (1939), Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy (1940), Bob Hope (1947 & 1969), Richard M. Nixon (1953 & 1960), Walt Disney (1966), Charles M. Schulz (1974), Roy Rogers & Dale Evans (1977), Gerald R. Ford (1978), Frank Sinatra (1980) Danny Kaye (1984), Bob Newhart (1991), William Shatner (1994), Carol Burnett (1998), Buzz Aldrin (1999), Regis Philbin (2002), Bill Cosby (2003), Fred Rogers (2003), John Williams (2004), Mickey Mouse (2005), George Lucas (2007), Emeril Lagasse (2008), and Cloris Leachman (2009).

2004
In 2004, the theme was "Music, Music, Music". NAMM, The Int'l Music Products Assoc. sponsored a Sesame Street float. The design was a toy school bus, with two pull toy wagons following it. Elmo playing a drum rode in the bus, while Big Bird (playing a trumpet), and Abelardo (from Plaza Sésamo) played the guitar in the second wagon. Riding on the float were many walk-around characters, including Zoe and Cookie Monster. Human cast members also appeared, including Bob and Gordon. Big Bird was made of individual feathers cut from pampas grass and colored with yellow cut strawflower. Abelardo was decorated with golden Juniper tips, and Elmo featured red carnations, sweet rice and amaranthis seeds.

2005
The 2005 theme was "Celebrate Family". Once again NAMM sponsored a float titled "Music Makes Us a Family", featuring the Sesame Street characters. Big Bird is playing a piano, while Elmo is playing the drums and Oscar the Grouch is playing the Maracas. The float won the Bob Hope Humor Trophy for most comical and amusing entry. Also appearing on the float were walk-around versions of Bert, Ernie, and Zoe.

2008
In 2008, the parade included a Sesame Street float sponsored by NAMM. It featured floral sculptures of Oscar shaking maracas, Elmo playing a drum, Big Bird, Count von Count standing with his arms wide open, Googly of Galli Galli Sim Sim playing the flute, Halum the Bengal Tiger from Sisimpur, and Lola, a pink monster from Plaza Sésamo.

2009
The NAMM float with the Music For All organization in 2009 is to feature one large float with Big Bird as a bandleader and the Sesame Street lamp post, followed by smaller floats with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Oscar the Grouch. Bob McGrath was on the float. A collection of 300 high school band members from across the country will play in the parade. The Music for All Honor Band, created for the event, played a melody of Sesame Street songs arranged by Michael Klesch and Thom Hannum.