The deafening roar of the B-2 bomber silenced the ten thousand plus crowd as it flew overhead marking the beginning of the 131st Rose Parade.
Hosted by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the parade took place on Jan. 1 down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena.
The parade marked the start of the new year and also served as a precursor to the Rose Bowl Game that takes place at the Rose Bowl after the parade. This year the football team Oregon defeated Wisconsin 28-27.
Campers, sleeping bags and fire pits lined the street from the night before. Spectators rang in the new year by camping front-row; the groups had endured the low 60-degree weather and winds to see the Rose Parade up-close.
Young paradegoers were still asleep wrapped up in their sleeping bags and blankets as their parents tried to wake them up as the floats and marching bands started to roll by feet from their faces.
This year, the grand marshals were exclusively Latinas. Of the three Latinas riding the grand marshal car, Rita Moreno was the most commanding as she boasted an Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy award. Laurie Hernandez and Gina Torres also have their expansive careers to boast, with Hernandez winning a gold medal at 16 and Torres acting in an arsenal of movies and television shows.
What many of the floats had in common was their use of diversity and multiculturalism. They all celebrated a unique aspect of the group they represented. For instance, the float that promoted 100 years of women’s suffrage portrayed women of all colors marching in full 1920s regale.
Displaying the theme of “The Power of Hope,” floats were decorated in a way that brought inspiration and a theme of hope to mind, with rankings that ranged from best animated to the overall best float in the parade. This year, the overall best float went to UPS’ “Stories Change Our World” for best entry in the 2020 Tournamnet of Roses.
The UPS float had a real waterfall and a stream running through the middle of the float. With orange monkeys, tall toucans and parrots, the float depicted an array of colors and sounds that took viewers to the jungle.
In the Americana award department, the judges gave the award to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants for the float “The Voyage of Hope —1620.”
The float was awarded for the most outstanding depiction of natural treasures and traditions. It had a giant boat in the middle with an array of pilgrims on the deck, waving to the crowd. The hull of the boat was adorned with fall-related items including pumpkins and a cornucopia horn full of squashes and other harvest items.
The judges awarded Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day “Plant a Garden … Believe in Tomorrow” float as best animated. The animated stick figure in the float showed off the expertise of the animation department as a massive stick figure lady stooped down to sow the garden, along with a wheelbarrow filled with various types of flowers and fruits.
The official “Judges’ pick” award went to Donate Life’s “Light in the Darkness” float for most outstanding float design and dramatic impact.
The push for inclusivity was felt all across the parade with marching bands from a lot of Latin American countries; Costa Rica, El Salvador and Mexico were welcomed with cheers and hoots from the crowd as they danced and showed off the traditional vestments of their culture.
The Aguiluchos, a group of young dancers named after a type of bird, from Puebla, Mexico, wore traditional multicolored Mexican folkloric dresses. The Costa Rican band marched down Colorado Boulevard dancing with partners and and played music from their country for the crowd.
Along the sidelines of the parade route sat groups waving around their country’s flags. A multitude of Salvadoran and Mexican flags fluttered, people chanting their origins proudly.
As the parade route starting clearing and returning to normality, a crew of bikers made their way down Colorado Boulevard waving Bernie Sanders flags while passing out stickers and flyers.
People chanted the Vermont Senator’s name to the tune of “ole ole ole.” While some followed the tune, others booed the group away. Others said the parade was no place for political campaigning.
Immediately parade goers were divided and all the inclusivity the parade preached disappeared. People were either for or against the “bern” that the campaigners were pushing.
Sanders’ team was not the only candidate campaigning at the Rose Parade. Democrat Andrew Yang’s team also showed his presence with the lone biker, Andy Au, making his way down the street chanting about the promises of Yang. Au didn’t make it far as he met a dissident and got himself into an argument with a Trump supporter.
The sense of togetherness the parade fostered went out the door the moment politics came in through the window. So much for inclusivity.
