The 137th Tournament of Roses Parade is underway along a rain-slickened Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena although active rainfall is mostly on pause as the procession of 39 floral floats, 17 equestrian teams and 19 marching bands makes its way along the 5 1/2-mile route.
It’s the first time in 20 years that rain has dampened the parade route and reduced the number of people camping out overnight to get a good vantage point.
But the inclement weather did not appear to dampen the spirit of spectators — or participant
Rain has not fallen on the parade since 2006, and it has only dampened the parade about a dozen times in the procession’s previous 136 years.
The theme of Thursday’s parade is “The Magic in Teamwork,” which Tournament of Roses officials said celebrates “the sense of accomplishment in knowing that by working together, we can collectively achieve outcomes so much richer than we can ever experience as individuals.”
Fitting perfectly with the theme, the grand marshal is Laker legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a grand marshal in the Tournament of Roses history whose nickname has literally been in our tournament theme,” Tournament of Roses President Mark Leavens said while introducing Johnson as the grand marshal in October.
Johnson said being the grand marshal was an “incredible prestigious honor.”
“I’m still in disbelief because as a kid growing up in Lansing, Michigan, on New Year’s Day this was the thrill of a lifetime just to wake up to see who was the grand marshal and watch the parade,” Johnson said. “And I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would one day become the grand marshal. So I’m just blessed. I know what it means. I know that you had many great choices of other people, so I don’t take this lightly.
“I love this city and this is just another thing that the city has given back to me,” he said.
The parade began promptly at 8 a.m. at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard, moving north on Orange Grove then east on Colorado Boulevard, then turning north on Sierra Madre Boulevard and ending at Sierra Madre and Villa Street.
This year’s Sweepstakes Trophy for most beautiful entry went to Cal Poly Universities. Titled “Jungle Jumpstart,” it was designed, constructed and decorated by students at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and depicts a group of rainforest animals working together to restore an old robot.
This marks the 77th year the two universities have worked together to produce a Rose Parade entry.
Presiding over the parade is the 107th Rose Queen — Arcadia High School senior Serena Hui Guo — and the six members of her Rose Court:
— Riya Gupta, a Pasadena resident and student at Caltech;
— Keiko Rakin, a senior at Alhambra High School;
— Sophia Bai Ren, a senior at Arcadia High School;
— Naira Elaine Wadley, a senior at John Muir High School and a Monrovia resident;
— Livia Amy de Paula, a senior at Temple City High School and a San Gabriel resident; and
— Olivia Hargrove, a sophomore at Pasadena City College and a Pasadena resident.
The parade began with an “Opening Spectacular” musical performance by Bishop Briggs, who will be joined by two dozen dancers as she performs her hits “River” and “Champion.” She performed alongside the Honda float titled “The Power in Teams,” described as a “celebration of how dreams are most powerful when they are realized together.”
The procession will also feature a pair of mid-parade performances, one sponsored by Explore Louisiana, and the other by Visit Mississippi.
The Explore Louisiana performance will feature country singer and “American Idol” runner-up John Foster. Performing for Visit Mississippi will be country singer Charlie Worsham.
The grand finale musical performance will feature Capital Cities and the trio DEK of Hearts, the Mic Drop winner on NBC’s “The Voice.” They will be joined by 24 dancers performing in a range of styles ranging “from flappers to hip-hop.”
A total of 19 marching bands will take part in the parade, including groups from across the country and from Mexico and Japan. The bands of the two Rose Bowl Game participants, the University of Alabama and Indiana University, will also take part.
Seventeen equestrian groups will also join the parade, including the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment from Texas, the Arabian Horse Association, the Budweiser Clydesdales, the Los Hermanos Bañuelos Charro Team, Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, Hawaii Pa’u Riders, the New Buffalo Soldiers, the Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team and the Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society.
But the traditional highlight of the parade is the lineup of floral-covered floats. Nearly 40 floats will make their way along Colorado Boulevard, including some sponsored by Southland cities and others backed by businesses and organizations such as Elks U.S.A., Food for Health, Kaiser Permanente, Kiwanis International, Princess Cruises and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Also among this year’s floats will be a tribute to the 60th anniversary of the “Star Trek” television universe.
OneLegacy will also have its traditional Donate Life float, themed “Treasure Every Moment Together,” honoring organ donors. The float will feature 16 organ, eye and tissue recipients and living donors. A total of 29 deceased donors will be honored in the form of “floragraphs,” or floral portraits, adorning the float.
Also of note this year will be a float titled “Rising Together,” which honors all those who lost their homes in the Palisades and Eaton fires nearly a year ago. Fire survivors have been among those helping to decorate the float over the past few weeks.
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. Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Floatfest will open at 7 a.m. Friday for seniors and people with disabilities.