The first Rose Bowl Parade (Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Parade) was held on January 1, 1890, in Pasadena, California.

Quick Scoop

  • Date: January 1, 1890.
  • Place: Pasadena, California, organized by the Valley Hunt Club.
  • Original idea: A midwinter “festival of flowers” to showcase Pasadena’s mild climate, with flower-decorated horse-drawn carriages and sporting events like races and games.

A Bit of Story

Locals wanted to impress visitors from colder parts of the U.S. by showing that roses were blooming while other places were still in winter, so they created a floral parade through town. That small 1890 event grew over the years into today’s famous New Year’s spectacle of elaborate floats, bands, and horses watched by millions around the world.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.