PASADENA, Calif. — Rose Bowl festivities attracted people from across the country, not just for the game but the whole experience.

“Getting up on New Year’s Day and always watching it in TV, it’s always been a dream of mine to come to Pasadena and watch the Rose Bowl Parade,” said Susan Kainz.

She traveled to Pasadena from Wisconsin with her husband Helmut to attend the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl.

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We caught up with them at the annual Sip & Savor event, just one of their many stops before they watched their granddaughter perform in the parade and cheered on the Badgers at the game.

In 2019, there were an estimated 700,000 people who attended the parade according to the Tournament of Roses.

The parade and game are classified by the Department of Homeland Security as a Level 1 special event, which is a “significant event with national and/or international importance that requires federal interagency support."

This year, the Tournament of Roses expanded their use of barriers which have been used at the actual bowl game for three years.

“If someone hits the barrier by accident, it could be an elderly person, they’re nonlethal. It will stop the vehicle traveling within 30 mph within seven to 14 feet, and if it’s someone who does intend to do harm, it will also stop them seven to 14 feet but once again nonlethal,” said Peter Whitford, CEO and owner of Meridian Rapid Defense Group, the company who makes the barriers.

This year, for the first time, you’ll see the barriers along the parade route as well. Whitford tells Spectrum News 1 the company had 450 barriers over 75,000 blocks of the parade. The barriers are just one of the safety measures being used to protect people watching the parade.

“It’s actually a comfort to see the police department or even some of the barricades that are up," said Kainz. "It’s just a nice comfort to know that they’re taking the extra steps to make sure we’re safe.” 

These steps give Kainz and her husband freedom to enjoy the trip they always dreamed of taking.