Plot Synopsis

Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club "created a floral festival in 1890 patterned after the 'Battle of the Flowers' in Nice, France," and the event has been held annually ever since -- on January 1 (or January 2 if New Year's Day falls on a Sunday). The two-hour parade starts at 8am Pacific Time (11am Eastern Time) and travels 5-1/2 miles through the streets of Pasadena, spending most of its time on Colorado Blvd. Each float, keeping with the floral tradition of the Parade, must have its "entire surface covered using a variety of flowers, seeds, bark, leaves and other natural materials." According to the Tournament of Roses Association, "approximately one million people attend the Rose Parade each year, approximately 40 million Americans watch the Rose Parade on TV, as well as millions of international viewers in 150 territories around the world." The Rose Parade was canceled in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but parade coverage continued with a new two-hour special, airing live coast-to-coast.
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On Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at 8am PT/11am ET, ABC, NBC, RDF, and GAF, all presented live coverage of the 136th Rose Parade, with local coverage on KTLA. Billie Jean King is this year's Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal, along with this year's theme, "Best Day Ever." According to Ed Morales, the 2025 Pasadena Tournament of Roses President, the theme "celebrates life's best moments -- those unexpected times that bring a smile, warm our hearts and fill us with joy."

Kiesza and Aloe Blacc kick off the event aboard Honda's inspirational float, "Electrified Dreams." Debbie Gibson has the grand finale performance, along with singer-songwriter Betty Who. There are also two mid-parade performances on these floats: "Play Hooky in Illinois," inspired by FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, with musical artist Brian Culbertson; and an entry sponsored by Visit Mississippi, with singer Brandon Bennett and the group Chapell Hart.

Nearly a thousand white-glove volunteers will spend more than 80,000 meticulous hours creating this year's masterpiece floral floats that will span up to 75-feet long and up to 35-feet high. The floats will feature effects such as pyrotechnics, smoke, waterfalls, streamers and bubbles. Beginning with a B-2 Spirit flyover, viewers will also enjoy hundreds of energetic performers and as many as 20 marching bands from the U.S. and around the world. Parade participants also include equestrian teams, the USMC Mounted Color Guard and of course, the famous Rose Queen and her Royal Court.

NBC is celebrating its 98th year broadcasting the Rose Parade, beginning on radio in 1927 and then televising the annual event beginning in 1954. National coverage is from 8-10am PT/11am-1pm ET. Al Roker and Hoda Kotb host.

ABC's coverage is hosted by Hannah Storm and Kevin Negandhi, with reporter John Naber and special guest reporter Joey Graziadei.

RFD-TV broadcasts the parade in high definition with limited commercial interruptions every float, equestrian unit and marching band. Live coverage of the 136th Tournament of Rose Parade with television hosts Suzanne Alexander and Kirbe Schnoor goes from 11am-1pm ET. Prior to that, RFD televises a half-hour Rose Parade Pre-Show (10:30am).

Leeza Gibbons and Mark Steines host coverage of the parade on KTLA, starting at 8am PT/11am ET. Early coverage begins at 4am PT, with a look back at previous parades and a preview of the this year's parade, including a countdown.

Great American Family (GAF) is hosting coverage for the second time, using coverage by Leeza Gibbons and Mark Steines.