Rose Parade Rolling Through Streets Of Pasadena

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Crowds were packed 10 deep as the New Year’s Day procession of Rose Parade floats made its way through Pasadena, California.

The 119th edition of the Tournament of Roses began Tuesday morning with three military fighter jets streaking over cheering spectators, some of whom had slept on the sidewalk to get the spot they wanted.

As the parade made its way through the streets, a pickup truck that morphs into a spacecraft left plenty of people talking at the Tournament of Roses parade.

Thousands cheered that and dozens of other floats that made their way along the more than five-mile parade route in Pasadena, California. The floats also included a giant blossoming rose and a Chinese dragon.

Celebrities, marching bands, equestrian units and floats with waterfalls made their way along the more than five-mile parade route. There were 21 marching bands and 18 equestrian units.

This year’s theme was “Passport to the World’s Celebrations.”

The city estimates more than a million people visit Pasadena during the parade and Rose Bowl game festivities. Many in the crowd were from Illinois, in Pasadena to watch the afternoon Rose Bowl football game between the University of Southern California Trojans and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini.