Pasadena, California, is famous for the annual Rose Parade held on New Year's Day.
The Tournament of Roses Parade is staged in Pasadena and features decorated floats, marching bands, and equestrian units. It is held before the Rose Bowl college football game, another major New Year's Day tradition associated with Pasadena.
The parade began in 1890, when members of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club created a floral procession to promote the area's mild winter climate. Floats are known for using natural materials, including flowers and other plant matter, rather than ordinary painted surfaces.
The event is often called the Rose Parade, but its formal name is the Tournament of Roses Parade. Pasadena can be confused with nearby Los Angeles, where many Southern California celebrations occur; the parade route and stadium tradition are specifically connected with Pasadena.