Rain-soaked Rose Parade sees drop in attendance

On a rain-soaked New Year’s morning in Pasadena officials reported lower attendance at the 137th Rose Parade.

“Can definitely say very light crowds lined the parade route overnight and many came out right before the parade started to view the floats,” Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian said.

Last year, Pasadena officials reported that crowds surpassed that of any since before the pandemic. It was a much different scene Thursday morning. Bundled up revelers sports coats and ponchos along with the parade route.

If you’re wondering, no, everyone in attendance did not forget to pack an umbrella. The city announced earlier this week that umbrellas would not be allowed along the parade route just ponchos or jackets. Thursday marked the first rainy Rose Parade since the 2006 edition.

The rainy weather did not deter a brave group of attendees who continued the tradition of camping out hours before the parade begins to secure the best seats on the route. Officials said overnight attendance along the parade route was very light but spectators began filling the grandstands in the minutes before the parade began.

During the parade crowds along the route appeared noticeably lighter than previous years.