# Do you watch the Rose Parade on New Years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264 "2010-01-01T04:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/1 "2010-01-01T04:59:58Z")
I rarely watch the parades on Thanksgiving. I always try and watch the Rose Parade. šŸ™‚ Iā€™m fascinated with what they can do with flowers and other organic material. So, will you be watching with me on New Years morning? Anyone, ever attend the Rose Parade? Iā€™ve always wanted to know, can you smell the flowers as the floats go by? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/2 "2010-01-01T05:10:02Z")
1, though ā€œwhyā€ is not entirely clear. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/3 "2010-01-01T05:32:37Z")
Yeesh, no option for ā€œsometimesā€??? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/4 "2010-01-01T05:46:46Z")
Lots of my friends are big into parades but Iā€™ve never seen the appeal at all. Especially on TV. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/5 "2010-01-01T05:49:56Z")
Like the OP, seeing what they do every year is the attraction. I would like to see at the end of the route how frisky the bands are by then. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Daffyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daffyd/32/8923_2.png) [@Daffyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffyd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/6 "2010-01-01T09:32:37Z")
Does going to see all the floats lined up count? I guess it doesnā€™t, since it was technically New Yearā€™s Eve when my husband, dog and I went. Much better than having to wait for them to go by! We just spent a couple of hours walking down the street/staging area and saw the whole parade, minus the marching bands. Sort of strange though, since anything that sticks up on the floats, like the sails on the boat on Hondaā€™s float are sort of ā€œfoldedā€ until the parade starts. So, the Chinese float had about 4 or five skyscrapers that looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I really like living a few blocks away from the Parade Route! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Daffyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daffyd/32/8923_2.png) [@Daffyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffyd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/7 "2010-01-01T09:34:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Anyone, ever attend the Rose Parade? Iā€™ve always wanted to know, can you smell the flowers as the floats go by? Nope, strangely enough, there was no smell when we checked out the floats. I never even thought about it til you asked. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/8 "2010-01-01T14:16:14Z")
TLC is airing the behind the scenes coverage this year. Usually hgtv does it. It just came on. The parade starts in a couple hours. Now, I have to decide which channel to pick. šŸ˜‰ Happy New Year ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/9 "2010-01-01T14:22:17Z")
Iā€™ve generally caught some or all of the parade on TV, and I have done the camp-out-on-Colorado-Boulevard thing once. I live locally, so it is more and less of a big deal at the same time. Today, though, Iā€™m kind of hoping Iā€™ll have fallen back asleep before 8, so I guess I actually _want_ to miss it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/10 "2010-01-01T15:41:08Z")
You forgot option #4, ā€œOf course not, Iā€™m watching the [Mummers](http://www.phillymummers.com/).ā€ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/11 "2010-01-01T15:44:02Z")
> [@Daffyd](#): > > Does going to see all the floats lined up count? I guess it doesnā€™t, since it was technically New Yearā€™s Eve when my husband, dog and I went. Much better than having to wait for them to go by! We just spent a couple of hours walking down the street/staging area and saw the whole parade, minus the marching bands. > > Sort of strange though, since anything that sticks up on the floats, like the sails on the boat on Hondaā€™s float are sort of ā€œfoldedā€ until the parade starts. So, the Chinese float had about 4 or five skyscrapers that looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. > > I really like living a few blocks away from the Parade Route! šŸ™‚ Youā€™re so lucky. šŸ™‚ I bet you can hear the marching bands in your yard. ---
**Author:** ![Daffyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daffyd/32/8923_2.png) [@Daffyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffyd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/12 "2010-01-01T17:02:24Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Youā€™re so lucky. šŸ™‚ I bet you can hear the marching bands in your yard. Not sure - Iā€™m drinking coffee and watching it on TVā€¦ Itā€™s cold out there - itā€™s 50 degrees, and there are 300,000 peopleā€¦ Itā€™s nice to see the floats finished and with people on them! ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/13 "2010-01-01T18:17:54Z")
Nope. There are two things I hate: parades and high school marching bands. I honestly have never understood the appeal, which is probably my loss, or not. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/14 "2010-01-01T19:25:58Z")
> [@Daffyd](#): > > Not sure - Iā€™m drinking coffee and watching it on TVā€¦ Itā€™s cold out there - itā€™s 50 degrees, and there are 300,000 peopleā€¦ 50 is cold? ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/15 "2010-01-01T19:33:18Z")
I was a float decorator for many years, including pulling a New Yearā€™s Eve all-nighter one year. (Our high school Girl Scout troop volunteered.) Ironically, I have never actually attended the parade itself. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/16 "2010-01-01T20:11:37Z")
What group did the one with the Ten Commandments, the Three Crosses and that awesome Ark of the Covenant? I thought that totally rocked! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/17 "2010-01-01T20:23:25Z")
> [@Daffyd](#): > > Not sure - Iā€™m drinking coffee and watching it on TVā€¦ Itā€™s cold out there - itā€™s 50 degrees, and there are 300,000 peopleā€¦ > > Itā€™s nice to see the floats finished and with people on them! Are tickets required to watch the parade? Or is it first come, best standing spot. Also, do they leave the floats out for people to view after the parade? ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/18 "2010-01-01T20:33:39Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Are tickets required to watch the parade? Or is it first come, best standing spot. > > Also, do they leave the floats out for people to view after the parade? The grandstands along the route are ticketed, and rather pricey. I led a youth group that worked two sets of the grandstands for Sharp Seating Company as a fundraiser (including 2006, the year of the torrential rains). The street level space in front of the grandstands is first come first serve, and many people camp out (as mentioned) for that space. No tents are allowed, but you can have a small grill, so that helps with food and warmth. Thereā€™s also lots of RV space, and many people use that option. Yes, thereā€™s a viewing area for the floats after the parade. Area boy scouts provide parking for that activity, also as a fundraiser. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/19 "2010-01-01T20:38:39Z")
Nope. I donā€™t even like live parades, let alone ones on TV. Boring! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264/20 "2010-01-01T22:16:53Z")
I donā€™t really love it, but itā€™s a New Years tradition, especially on HGTV, when the commentators actually say interesting things. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-watch-the-rose-parade-on-new-years/523264.md?page=2)