When Dreams Come True

Each New Year’s Day, the world focuses its attention on Pasadena, California, U.S.A., home of the Rose Parade. You can be part of this celebration that is more than a century old–a festival of flowers, music and spectacles unequaled anywhere in the world. The Tournament is more than just a parade and football game. It’s America’s New Year Celebration, a greeting to the world on the first day of the year, and a salute to the community spirit and love of pageantry that have thrived in Pasadena for more than a century. This year’s theme is “Dreams Come True”. This Interlude is the experience of a lifetime and one you will long savor and remember and a lovely dream coming true for you!

An event as large as the Tournament of Roses takes about 80,000 hours of combined manpower each year. That manpower is supplied by 935 volunteer members of the Tournament of Roses Association, a volunteer organization dedicated to presenting an internationally recognized New Year’s celebration. Each volunteer is assigned to one of 35 committees, with responsibilities ranging from selecting parade participants to directing visitors on New Year’s Day, to serving hamburgers to band members at the end of the parade route, to giving presentations about the Tournament to community groups. It is a valiant effort and a well-oiled machine.

The volunteers are nicknamed “White Suiters” because of the distinctive white uniform they wear, and these community-spirited men and women give up their time to ensure the success of the Parade and Game. A small full-time staff provides support and continuity to the volunteer organization.

As each New Year’s Day approaches, the United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band members don their dress blue uniforms and march in perfect step down Colorado Boulevard. The band is made up of three Southern California Marine Bands and while those three bands individually perform over 300 times a year, the Rose Parade is the only event that brings them together as a single performance unit. Each member is fully combat-trained, and many have completed tours of duty in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. Stand to acknowledge these Marines who are not only talented but very brave.

Note, the Los Angeles Unified School District All District High School Honor Band will be making its 40th Rose Parade appearance on January 1, 2014. Band Director Anthony White, who marched in the band in 1985 as a student, leads the distinctive-sounding group, made up of only brass and percussion instruments accompanied by drum majors, flag bearers and banner carriers. Student musicians from all over the nation’s second-largest school district have to be recommended by their instructors; since the band’s inception, over 12,000 students have participated. They are a sight and sound to behold!

What I didn’t know was that each year, it is a tradition for the Tournament President to visit the selected marching bands prior to the upcoming Rose Parade. The intent is to further emphasize just how special it is to be invited to Pasadena for New Year’s Day, and to help with fundraising for the travel and accommodations costs. Special events and media interviews are usually part of the visit to help raise awareness and motivate the local community to support the band in this milestone opportunity. Just found out that the Carmel High School Marching Band placed first in the Bands of America Grand Nationals Championship. As the 2012 BOA Champions, the Greyhounds will be invited to march in the 2014 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA. Won’t it be fun to see fellow Hoosiers marching in the parade?

Ever wonder how the Rose Queen and her court were chosen? A place of honor is reserved in each Rose Parade for the float carrying the Royal Court. Every September more than 1,000 young women vie for the honor of riding that float – participating in a month-long interview process designed to find those participants with the right combination of poise, personality, public speaking ability and scholastic achievement. When it’s all over, a Rose Queen and six Rose Princesses reign over the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. They will attend nearly 150 public and media functions during their year of service.

Horses have been part of the Rose Parade since the beginning, with equines pulling flower-decorated carriages on New Year’s Day 1890, when the Valley Hunt Club launched its publicity effort to showcase the beautiful winter weather in Southern California. Even as motorized vehicles began to appear in 1901, horses were still integral to the Tournament’s festivities and today remain the favored aspect of many parade fans. They tend to be spectacular! For the 2014 Rose Parade, 15 equestrian units will be selected to present their unique style of entertainment. Look for the groups that can wow the crowd with inspiring showmanship, eye-catching costumes and dramatic tack – of course spectacular tricks and stunts are always appreciated!

The Rose Parade is only one of the wonderful experiences you will enjoy on this fully escorted sojourn to Southern California. Please review the complete itinerary and book your trip right away – airfare goes up as we get closer to departure date.

The Tournament of Roses Parade (click here for details & departure dates)
6 Days, 5 Nights

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

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