Rose Parade 2027: Dates, Tickets and How to Get There

The 138th Rose Parade starts at 8:00 a.m. PST on Friday 1 January 2027 in Pasadena, California, according to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses ^{1 18}. Sharp Seating, the official grandstand office, gives the same date and time ⁴. The theme is "Welcome", and the 113th Rose Bowl Game, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, follows the same day ^{1 11}.

The date is fixed to New Year's Day with one exception. When 1 January falls on a Sunday, the parade and the Rose Bowl Game move to Monday 2 January ^{6 10}. The rule goes back to 1893, when organisers did not want to frighten horses hitched outside Sunday church services ⁸. Since 1 January 2027 is a Friday, no shift applies ¹.

The last edition shows what to expect. The 137th parade on 1 January 2026 was the first in 20 years to be rained on, and the wet night cut the number of overnight campers ¹⁴. It had 39 floral floats, 17 equestrian teams and 19 marching bands ¹⁴.

Key dates around the 2027 parade, as listed by the organisers:

• 28 to 30 December: Decorating Places, float decorating at 700 Seco St ⁶

• 29 December: Equestfest at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank ¹⁶

• 29 to 30 December: Bandfest at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd ⁶

• 31 December, noon: curbside camping opens ³

• 1 January, 8:00 a.m.: the parade starts ¹⁸

• 1 to 3 January 2027: Floatfest at Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards ⁷

Tip: Arrive in Pasadena by 30 December 2026 so you can see the floats being decorated before the overnight camp-out ⁶.

Watching from the curb is free, and a reserved grandstand seat for the 2027 parade costs 82 to 133 USD through Sharp Seating, the Tournament of Roses' official ticket office ⁴. There are over 70,000 elevated, numbered seats along the route ⁴. Sharp Seating tickets go on sale on the first working day of February for the following parade ⁴.

Price follows position. For 2027, the most expensive seats sit at the start, on South Orange Grove and West Colorado, where floats are freshest and TV cameras work ⁴:

• South Orange Grove, 100 to 151 S.: 133 USD ⁴

• Early formation line-up, 155 and 164 S. Orange Grove: 120 USD ⁴

• West Colorado, 235 to 450 W.: 133 USD ⁴

• East Colorado, 120 to 2350 E.: 82 to 103 USD ⁴

The west-end stands are about 1.5 miles from the Rose Bowl, so they suit visitors going on to the game ⁴. All sales are final, the parade runs rain or shine, and umbrellas are not allowed in grandstands ⁴. Comfort stations stand next to each grandstand ⁴.

Parking is sold separately for 2027: reserved car parking costs 57.50 to 67.50 USD, all-day parking 122.50 USD and overnight car parking 112.50 to 132.50 USD ⁴. Frontline RV spaces on the route cost 660 USD and second-line spaces 460 USD ⁴.

A clear bag policy applies to the parade and its events ⁵. Bags larger than 14 by 14 by 6 inches are not allowed on the route ⁶.

Tip: The section number before the dash on your ticket is the grandstand number, so "14-1" means Grandstand 14 ⁶.

Memorial Park station is the closest Metro A Line stop, about 0.2 miles from the route, and Del Mar, Lake and Allen stations are within 0.4 miles ⁶. The A Line links Pasadena to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, and Pasadena lies about 10 miles northeast of downtown ¹². Visit Pasadena lists the stations this way ⁶:

• Del Mar station: about 0.3 miles, walk north to Colorado Blvd ⁶

• Memorial Park station: about 0.2 miles, walk south ⁶

• Lake station: about 0.4 miles, walk south ⁶

• Allen station: about 0.4 miles, walk south ⁶

On parade morning A Line service starts around 4 a.m. ⁶. The Tournament of Roses says Metro runs 24-hour rail service from the night of 31 December into parade morning ³. For New Year's Eve 2025, Metro rides were free from 4 a.m. on 31 December to 3 a.m. on 1 January ¹³. Load a TAP card or the TAP app with a round-trip fare beforehand to skip ticket machine queues ⁶.

From the airports, Hollywood Burbank is about 16 miles from Pasadena and Los Angeles International (LAX) about 29 miles ¹². Visitors flying into LAX for the Rose Parade on 1 January 2027 can ride to Union Station and change to the A Line, or take a car directly ¹².

Driving is harder. Colorado Boulevard closes from Orange Grove to Sierra Madre at 10 p.m. on 31 December until 2 p.m. on 1 January ³. Driving access across Colorado Blvd closes at 6 a.m. sharp, and grandstand lots must empty right after the parade ⁶. Pasadena exempts legally parked cars from overnight citations between 23 December and 3 January ⁶.

The Rose Bowl stadium, at 1001 Rose Bowl Drive (34.161 N, 118.168 W), sits in the Arroyo Seco west of the route ¹⁰.

Tip: Do not drive by GPS on parade morning; road closures may not show, so follow the official parking directions instead ^{5 6}.

The parade is the centre of a week of events, from float decorating on 28 December to Floatfest on 3 January ^{6 7}. The main parade passes any spot in about 2 hours ⁴.

The parade order is built from three kinds of entry: floats, bands and horses ². The Tournament of Roses has named 19 of the 21 bands, adding two once the Rose Bowl teams are known in December ¹. International bands for 2027 come from Puebla in Mexico, from Japan and from Alajuelita in Costa Rica ¹. The 17 equestrian units include the Budweiser Clydesdales, the United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard and the Valley Hunt Club, the Pasadena club that staged the first parade in 1890 ^{16 8}. Floats previewed for 2027 include Cal Poly Universities' "Soaring as One" and Rotary's "Where Communities Bloom" ¹⁷.

The ticketed pre- and post-parade events, with 2026 prices from Sharp Seating:

• Decorating Places, 28 to 30 December: watch volunteers finish the floats, 21.50 USD ⁴

• Bandfest, 29 to 30 December: three shows by parade bands, 26.50 USD ⁴

• Equestfest, 29 December: meet riders and horses in Burbank, 26.50 USD, VIP 51.50 USD ⁴

• Floatfest, 1 to 3 January: walk among parked floats, 26.50 USD ⁴

The Tournament of Roses lists Equestfest on 29 December 2026 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center ¹⁶. Bandfest plays on 29 December at 2 p.m. and 30 December at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ⁴.

The floats themselves are the reason people come. Every inch must be covered in flowers or other natural materials such as leaves, seeds and bark, and roses sit in individual vials of water ². Artificial flowers are banned ⁸. More than 80,000 volunteer hours go into each Tournament ².

Tip: Decorating Places is the only chance to see the floats before the petals go on, and volunteers talk while they work.

Curbside camping along the route opens at noon on 31 December, and the one night before the parade is the only night it is allowed ^{3 6}. It is free, and it is how families get front-row spots without a grandstand ticket. On Rose Parade night before 1 January 2027, the rules below apply along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena ⁶.

At 11 p.m., campers may move forward from the curb to the blue Honor Line, but not past it ^{3 6}. City rules for the night ⁶:

• No chairs in Area 1, west of Fair Oaks Avenue

• No tents, sofas or unoccupied chairs

• Barbecues only if professionally made, raised at least 1 foot and 25 feet from buildings, with an extinguisher

• No bonfires

• Minors under 18 on the route from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. only with an adult

• No spray paint, tape or rope to save space

Throwing objects at floats, vehicles or people is banned, and the city names tortillas, marshmallows and flowers ⁶. Drones, laser pointers, air horns, glass bottles, coolers and alcohol on public property are also prohibited ⁶. Sealed water bottles of 24 oz or less are allowed, two per person ⁶. Smoking, cannabis and vaping are prohibited ⁶.

Overnight street parking starts at noon the day before for that evening only, and there is no parking on the route itself ³. Self-contained RVs can stay overnight at Brookside Park on a first-come basis ³. Wheelchair-accessible curbside spaces are requested through a Tournament of Roses form ⁶.

If you skip the night, the guide advises arriving at least two hours before the start ³. Grandstand guests on Orange Grove between Colorado and Green should be seated by 6:30 a.m., and west of Fair Oaks by 7:00 a.m. ⁶.

Tip: Bring a weather-rated sleeping bag and a waterproof ground sheet; tents are not allowed, and the 2026 rain soaked those who camped ¹⁴.

Pasadena's January normals are a 68.1 °F (20.1 °C) average high and a 45.5 °F (7.5 °C) average low, from 1991 to 2020 records ⁹. The parade starts close to the coldest hour, so expect cool air at 8 a.m. and warm sun by late morning. The record January low is 21 °F ⁹.

Rain is possible. January averages 4.51 inches (115 mm) of rain on 7.1 days ⁹. The Rose Parade on 1 January 2026 was the first in 20 years to be soaked, after heavy rain moved in on New Year's Eve ¹⁴. Umbrellas are not permitted along the route, so rain means ponchos ⁶.

Crowd level runs about 5 out of 5 along Colorado Boulevard on parade morning, and spikes again at Floatfest on the afternoon of 1 January. Floatfest is calmest on 2 January, when seniors and disabled visitors have 7 to 9 a.m. to themselves ⁷.

What to pack for a curb night and a parade morning:

• Warm layers, a hat and gloves, especially for children and older relatives ⁶

• A rain poncho or waterproof jacket instead of an umbrella ⁶

• A clear bag within 14 by 14 by 6 inches ^{5 6}

• Two sealed water bottles of 24 oz or less ⁶

• A sleeping bag and ground sheet if you camp

• A power bank; phones drain fast in the cold

• Sunscreen for the late-morning sun

Food is up to you. The city advises bringing drinks and nourishing meals, and food for personal use may be allowed at security's discretion, but whole unsliced fruit and vegetables are not ⁶. Cafes on Lake Avenue and in Old Pasadena are the nearest places to warm up, so carry a hot drink from your hotel if you can.

Tip: Bring a folding blanket rather than a chair if you are in Area 1 west of Fair Oaks Avenue, where chairs are not allowed ⁶.

Stay on East Colorado Boulevard if you want to walk out of your room onto the route, and in Old Pasadena or near the Playhouse District if you want restaurants, the A Line and an easy walk to the start. Both fill up first for New Year's.

Visit Pasadena's hotel list for the parade shows the pattern: a row of motels and mid-range hotels sits directly on East Colorado Boulevard between the 900 and 2800 blocks, while larger hotels cluster around Los Robles Avenue, Green Street and Fair Oaks Avenue, a few blocks from the route ⁶. The choices compare like this:

• East Colorado Boulevard: step out to the curb, near the 82 to 103 USD grandstands for 2027 ^{4 6}

• Old Pasadena, near Fair Oaks: dining, Memorial Park station, walk to Orange Grove ⁶

• Civic Center, Los Robles Avenue: central, near Del Mar and Memorial Park stations ⁶

• South Pasadena or Arcadia: quieter, on the A Line, with a train ride in

For the Rose Parade on 1 January 2027 in Pasadena, book nights of 30 and 31 December 2026 early; the Floatfest days on 2 and 3 January 2027 are easier ⁷. If Pasadena is full, a room in downtown Los Angeles works, since the A Line starts around 4 a.m. on parade morning ⁶.

The Tournament House, the Tournament of Roses headquarters at 391 S. Orange Grove Blvd, stands near the start of the route ^{3 15}. Its rose gardens are open all year except 31 December to 2 January ¹⁵.

RV travellers have more options. Sharp Seating sells RV spaces in lots near the route for 355 to 405 USD for 2027 ⁴. Visit Pasadena lists RV parks in San Dimas, Pomona and Van Nuys ⁶.

Tip: If your hotel is south of Colorado Boulevard, ask the desk which cross streets stay open on parade morning; you cannot drive across after 6 a.m. ⁶.

Mobile data works along the route but slows when hundreds of thousands of people use the same cells at once. Sharp Seating, the official grandstand office, warns buyers that cell service may be slow at the venue and tells them to download or print tickets before arriving ⁵. An estimated 750,000 spectators lined the Pasadena route in 2024 ⁸.

The busiest moments are predictable: the 8 a.m. start, when the floats nearest the TV cameras pass, and the first hour after the end, when everyone books rides and checks the Floatfest queue. Text messages hold up; video calls stall first.

What your phone does on Rose Parade day:

• Opens mobile tickets and parking passes ⁵

• Receives alerts; text ROSEPARADE to 888777 ³

• Runs the official Rose Parade app ⁶

• Shows which roads reopen after 2 p.m. on 1 January ³

• Loads TAP fares for the Metro A Line ⁶

For the 138th parade on 1 January 2027 in Pasadena, set everything up on 31 December 2026: tickets in the wallet, offline maps of Colorado Boulevard, the station you plan to use and a pin for your camping spot ¹.

Visitors from abroad can install a US eSIM over hotel Wi-Fi before flying, so maps and ride apps work from the moment they land at LAX or Hollywood Burbank. The United States eSIM page lists the options; keep your home SIM active for bank codes.

Tip: Post your float videos after you get home or from a cafe on Lake Avenue; uploads from the curb at 8 a.m. stall while messages still go through.

Floatfest parks the floats at Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards in east Pasadena for three days after the parade, close enough to see the seeds and petals ⁷. The 2027 schedule ⁷:

• Friday 1 January: 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 4 p.m.

• Saturday 2 January: 7 to 9 a.m. for seniors and disabled visitors, then 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Sunday 3 January: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., last entry 3 p.m.

The floats sit on a 2-mile display with no trams, so expect to walk about 2.5 miles over at least two hours ⁷. Only clear bags are allowed, and skateboards, bikes, wagons, pets and coolers are not ⁷. Strollers may be tough on the terrain ⁷. A Food Fare stands on Sierra Madre Blvd near Gate A ⁷. Six free Park-N-Ride lots run shuttles to the site at Pasadena High School ⁷. Admission was 26.50 USD per person at 2026 prices ⁴.

Families and older relatives should plan around these points. Grandstands offer seats for mobility-impaired guests on request, and Floatfest's 2 January early hours are the calmest ^{4 7}. For lost companions or trouble on the route, call 911 with cross streets, or the Pasadena Police non-emergency line, (626) 744-4241 ⁶.

Combining the day with the Rose Bowl Game is the classic New Year's in Pasadena. On 1 January 2027 the 113th Rose Bowl Game is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, with kickoff at 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. PT, and tickets started at 202.90 USD including fees ¹¹. The stadium seats 89,702 ¹⁰. With a 1 p.m. kickoff, skip Floatfest until 2 January.

Tip: Go to Floatfest on 2 or 3 January if you can; on 1 January it opens only at 1:30 p.m. and ticket sales end at 3:30 p.m. ⁷.