PASADENA, Calif. — The 136th Rose Parade began Wednesday under the watchful eye of tens of thousands of spectators and millions of television viewers around the globe, making its annual trek down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena led by grand marshal Billie Jean King.

What You Need To Know

  • The parade, themed “Best Day Ever,” stepped off at 8 a.m. near Tournament House — headquarters of the Tournament of Roses — to make its traditional 5 1/2-mile procession

  • The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance took top honors in the float competition, winning the 2025 Sweepstakes Trophy for the second consecutive year for its entry

  • Billie Jean King, tennis legend and lifelong advocate of gender equality in sports, was announced as the grand marshal in October

  • The parade’s grand finale musical performance will feature pop icon Debbie Gibson, along with singer-songwriter Betty Who and students and alumni of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy

The parade, themed “Best Day Ever,” stepped off at 8 a.m. near Tournament House — headquarters of the Tournament of Roses — to make its traditional 5 1/2-mile procession.

“The 2025 theme celebrates life’s best moments — those unexpected times that bring a smile, warm our hearts and fill us with joy,” Tournament of Roses President Ed Morales said in a statement unveiling the parade theme. “From a once-in-a-lifetime experience to the simplest pleasures, each is indelibly etched into our memory. Together, we celebrate where we’ve been and what we look forward to. It’s about family, friends, and community and what we have to celebrate — and to be thankful for. On New Year’s Day and throughout the year, let’s celebrate the times that make up our Best Day Ever.”

The parade route begins at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard, moves north on Orange Grove then east on Colorado Boulevard, then turns north on Sierra Madre Boulevard and ends at Sierra Madre and Villa Street.

Billie Jean King, a tennis legend and lifelong advocate of gender equality in sports, was announced as the grand marshal in October, with Morales saying her “trailblazing work has elevated women in sports and inspired countless best days ever for athletes and fans around the globe.”

King called the honor a “dream come true.”

“The annual Tournament of Roses parade was a big deal in our home,” the Long Beach native said. “We used to talk about it all year long, about January 1st. `Oh, we know what we’re gonna do.’ We look forward to it every single year. ... So we watch the parade, then we get all ready for the game. And the Rose Bowl stands in history, not just for college football, but it also for me, personally, it will always be significant as the host site of the 1999 World Cup of women’s soccer. That game, which had more than 90,000 people in the stadium, was a historic moment for all sports, but especially women’s sports, because everybody said nobody’s going to show up. And they had over 90,000 people.”

The parade was also presided over by the 106th Rose Queen — Westridge School senior Lindsay Charles — and the six members of her Rose Court:

  • Lisette Parker, a senior at Maranatha High School
  • Saniyah Brunston, a senior at John Muir High School
  • Lara Georgian, a senior at Mayfield Senior School
  • Natalia Pradhan, a senior at Flintridge Preparatory School
  • Simone Ball, a senior at Arcadia High School
  • Kate Kelly, a senior at La Cañada High School

The parade began with an “Opening Spectacular” musical performance by Kiesza and Aloe Blacc aboard a float by performance sponsor Honda themed “Electrified Dreams.” Officials said the float includes a synchronized light show with electric tubes, pyrotechnics and stunts.

There will also be mid-parade performances, including one sponsored by Visit Illinois and its float titled “Play Hooky in Illinois,” inspired by the classic film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” The performance will feature musical artist and Illinois native Brian Culbertson, joined by a Ferris Bueller look-alike and dancers.

A second mid-parade performance will be sponsored by Visit Mississippi, featuring singer Brandon Bennett and the group Chapell Hart.

The parade’s grand finale musical performance will feature pop icon Debbie Gibson, along with singer-songwriter Betty Who and students and alumni of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. Actress/dancer/choreographer Debbie Allen will also make an appearance, riding a float celebrating the 25th anniversary of her dance academy.

Two dozen marching bands were set to appear in the parade, including groups from across the country as well as Japan, Denmark and Chile. The bands of the two universities competing in the Rose Bowl Game — Oregon and Ohio State — were also marching in the procession.

More than a dozen equestrian groups were taking part in the parade, including the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment, the Arabian Horse Association, the Budweiser Clydesdales and the Los Hermanos Bañuelos Charro Team.

But the real highlight of the parade is the lineup of floral-covered floats. Nearly 40 floats make their way along Colorado Boulevard, including some sponsored by Southland cities and others backed by businesses and organizations such as UPS, Trader Joe’s, the San Diego Zoo, Pasadena Humane, Kiwanis International and Kaiser Permanente. Universal Pictures has a float in the procession celebrating its film “Wicked,” featuring the production’s star characters — Glinda and Elphaba.

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance took top honors in the float competition, winning the 2025 Sweepstakes Trophy for the second consecutive year for its entry “Friendship Across the Earth,” featuring two giant pandas frolicking around their new home, the reimagined Panda Ridge habitat.

OneLegacy again has its traditional Donate Life float, themed “Let Your Life Soar,” honoring organ donors. This year’s float includes 18 organ recipients and donors riding or walking alongside the float. Another 26 deceased donors will be honored along with their families. Those donors are recognized through “floragraphs,” or floral portraits, that adorn the float.

The festivities were tempered somewhat by news of the deadly attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the early morning hours, where at least 10 people were killed when a truck was intentionally driven into a crowd of holiday revelers.

“As so many here in Los Angeles wake up to begin the new year, they will be greeted by the devastating news of terror and violence in New Orleans,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement on X Wednesday morning.

“The Los Angeles Police Department is coordinating with federal partners to keep Angelenos safe. Local and regional law enforcement will remain vigilant at events in the L.A. region including the Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl Game and other gatherings,” Bass added.

“Our city’s thoughts are with the families and communities impacted by this morning’s horrific incident.”

Tournament of Roses organizers and the city of Pasadena also extended condolences to the people of New Orleans.

“ We stand in solidarity with the entire state during this difficult time,” they said in a statement.

Organizers pointed out that the Rose Parade route has a “a hard shutdown” to vehicles along the 5 1/2-mile route, robust vehicle barriers at each intersection, and more than 1,000 law enforcement personnel working the parade and the Rose Bowl Game that follows later Wednesday.

Following the parade, the floats will go on display at the Floatfest at Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards, giving spectators a chance to a get a close-up look at the creations. The Floatfest will be open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The Floatfest will open at 7 a.m. Thursday for seniors and people with disabilities.