FUN-travel: Pasadena Rose Parade

January 4, 2010 by  

Friday, January 1, 2010 – 8:00 am – Pasadena

Kaiser Float

Kaiser Float

I feel very fortunate to have been to the Rose Parade six times and this year I had the best seat ever! Thanks to Kaiser Permanente for the tickets (my husband, Chris, worked for them the past 45 years and just retired.) We were right on the corner of Orange Grove Avenue and Colorado Boulevard where all the TV cameras are positioned.

Fireworks Going Off

Fireworks Going Off

What that means is, all the bells and whistles that occur on the floats happens right there. The floats with fireworks require a generator to be plugged into the rear. A 50 foot extension cord on wheels trails behind. After they pass the cameras the fireworks are done so you miss that part if you are not near the  beginning.

Another reason you want to be at the front of the parade is the floats have a tendency to break down. If you’re at the end of the parade route it can take a long time to see all of the floats. (Been there, done that!)

I also prefer to be about 5 levels up from the street. We had seats at row 26 and that was too far for me. So half the time we stood at street level for that very different perspective.

I am including my favorite floats (they were all spectacular!)

Shanghai was by the far the biggest in terms of the sheer number of people. There were the cutest young girls on roller blades that skated to form a caterpillar and then broke away and lifted their arms to reveal fabric butterfly wings. Jackie Chan is on the float as well.

Shanghai Float with Jackie Chan

Shanghai Float with Jackie Chan

Jack-in-the-Box

Jack-in-the-Box

Jack was at his finest Salsa dancing! There were Salsa dancers both leading and trailing the float. Really FUN!

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