Introduction to the 2026 Rose Parade
If you’re planning to camp out along Colorado Boulevard to grab a prime viewing spot for the Rose Parade, you’ll want to pack a good poncho. For the first time in two decades, the annual parade might get rained on, as more wet weather is expected in Southern California this week.
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The holiday rain totals, on top of strong storms in November, have made for one of the wettest rainy seasons in SoCal. Downtown Los Angeles has received 11.13 inches so far this season. A normal amount by this point would be 3.28 inches, according to Rich Thompson, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Potential Impact on the Parade
The possibility that sheets of rain could soak floats and marching bands pales in comparison to last week’s muddy storm, which produced a small tornado in Boyle Heights and played a role in the deaths of five people. But it could put a damper on the parade, which last experienced wet weather in 2006. Before that, rain hadn’t fallen on the parade since 1955, my colleagues reported — and only eight other times since the floats began rolling in 1890.
Weather Forecast
Rain is expected to begin falling on New Year’s Eve night, with as much as a tenth of an inch expected, along with an additional half inch on New Year’s Day, Thompson told The Times.
A Floral Fantasy
Despite the potential for showers during the 137th Rose Parade, the event has long been known to showcase not just pretty floats carpeted in flowers but also Southern California’s sunny weather. In fact, Pasadena’s distinguished Valley Hunt Club started the parade as a way to promote the city as a paradise of blooming flowers and beautiful weather.
History of the Rose Parade
Members of the club came up with a festival of outdoor events — including chariot races, jousting, footraces, polo and tug of war — that would eventually become the Tournament of Roses and be preceded by a parade in which participants decorated their carriages with hundreds of blooms.
The Parade’s Evolution
Diversity among floral patterns has been on display at the Rose Parade since 1890. Diversity among its members and royal court? Not so much. The Times’ Patt Morrison pointed this out in a column from 2012, noting that the parade hadn’t always put women, Black Angelenos or other people of color in visible roles. The parade had been around for 43 years before a woman served as grand marshal.
Recent Developments
The NAACP threatened in the 1960s to send 10,000 protesters on New Year’s Day unless the queen and court selection process was opened up to young women of color, Patt recalled. A Black woman and a person of Asian descent finally joined the parade’s royal court in 1969. Times have certainly changed since then, as the organization has appointed many women and men of different races to be grand marshal. This year’s parade theme is “The Magic in Teamwork,” and the grand marshal is basketball legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
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What Else is Going On
The parade kicks off at 8 a.m. Jan. 1, will cover 5.5 miles and will feature floral-covered floats, equestrian units and marching bands. It’s been all hands on deck for an army of volunteers who work on getting the floats ready for their run down Colorado Boulevard.
Conclusion
The 2026 Rose Parade is expected to be a unique event, with the possibility of rain and a new theme, “The Magic in Teamwork.” The parade has a long history of showcasing Southern California’s sunny weather and beautiful flowers, but it has also evolved to include more diversity among its members and royal court. With the grand marshal being basketball legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson, this year’s parade is sure to be an exciting event.
FAQs
Q: What is the theme of the 2026 Rose Parade?
A: The theme of the 2026 Rose Parade is “The Magic in Teamwork.”
Q: Who is the grand marshal of the 2026 Rose Parade?
A: The grand marshal of the 2026 Rose Parade is basketball legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
Q: What is the weather forecast for the 2026 Rose Parade?
A: Rain is expected to begin falling on New Year’s Eve night, with as much as a tenth of an inch expected, along with an additional half inch on New Year’s Day.
Q: How long is the Rose Parade route?
A: The Rose Parade route is 5.5 miles long.
Q: What time does the Rose Parade start?
A: The Rose Parade starts at 8 a.m. on January 1.
