Rose Bowl Parade Brings in the New Year Again

The Rose Bowl parade is New Years Day's greatest celebration. In 2010, the Rose Bowl parade is once again bringing in the new year with flowers, bands, and a prelude to football. The Tournament of Roses organized the event for the 121'st time, as Pasadena puts on the first big show of the new year. The 2010 Rose Bowl parade is highlighted by a goodbye, and leadership from 2009's biggest hero.

Every Tournament of Roses parade for the last several years has been organized by Gary J. DiSano, the president of the Tournament. DiSano died in September, so this year, his family will preside over the parade instead, and ride in the presidential car.

The Grand Marshal who kicked off this year's show is Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, even though he performed his heroics in New York. 2009 is over, yet 2010 still has room to honor Sully for the Hudson River landing. The one-year anniversary of that day approaches, so Sullenberger's latest tribute involves him leading the parade, and performing the coin toss at today's Rose Bowl.

For football fans, the Rose Bowl parade is a prelude to the game of the same name. This year, the ceremonies take place without USC for the first time in ages. Ohio State and Oregon will meet several hours after the parade, in what will hopefully be the first thrilling Rose Bowl in a while. Yet the Granddaddy Of Them All isn't the biggest game in town this year, since the BCS championship will be held in six days.

However, for Pasadena at large, the big show in town is still the Rose Bowl parade. This show precedes even the big game itself, as the parade is 121 years old, whereas the Granddaddy is a mere 96. College football's grandest bowl game probably wouldn't be possible, if not for the parade that preludes it.

For parade fans, the Tournament of Roses provides floats, flowers and bands that surpass anything else on New Years Day. Only the Philadelphia Mummers Parade can compete as the most noteworthy celebration today. While Thanksgiving has the Macys parade, and New Years Eve has Dick Clark's Rocking Eve, New Years Day is for the Roses.

By now, the Rose Bowl parade is nearing an end, as the participants near the Sierra Madre. Afterwards, the game between Ohio State and Oregon will merely cap off Pasadena's biggest day. As this year's theme starts, the ceremonies are just 'A cut above the rest.'

Sources

Tournament of Roses

LA Times- "Rose Parade kicks off"

Post Chronicle- "121'st Rose Parade Set For New Years Day"