For the attendees of this year's Rose Parade in Pasadena, it's time to ditch the umbrellas and suit up in rain gear, as showers are anticipated to grace the event for the first time in two decades. The iconic parade, running for over a century, has only witnessed rainfall on ten occasions, and this New Year's Day may mark the eleventh, according to a forecast cited by NBC Los Angeles. In preparation for potential wet weather, spectators are reminded that umbrellas are prohibited along the parade route to ensure that everyone's view remains unobstructed, a statement echoed by the City of Pasadena Twitter account.
This year's theme, "The Magic in Teamwork," resonates deeply with a community still recovering from various hardships, including devastating fires and economic pressures. Stefan Pollack from Artistic Entertainment Services recalls the last rain-soaked parade in 2006, "That is definitely imprinted right on my head," Pollack said in an account obtained by ABC7. Despite the weather, the parade went on, and Pollack assures that the beautifully crafted floats are built to withstand a bit of extra weight from the rain.
Local businesses along the parade route are bracing for potential impacts too. Pasadena's economy has felt strained this year, with some retailers and restaurateurs reporting revenue down by about 70 percent compared to 2025. Owners like Armen Shirvanian of Mi Piace Restaurant view the parade as a vital influx of business during the New Year celebrations. "The fires really hurt, and then obviously all of June was the ICE raids I came in one Sunday morning and my whole kitchen was gone and I had to call them back one by one and promise them that I would be with them and all of it would be all right and then the tariffs came and meat prices went up," Shirvanian told NBC Los Angeles.
Despite the potential for rain, the spirits and expectations remain high. Jack Huang, owner of Hawg Heaven Restaurant, relies on the inflow of visitors, especially enthusiastic football fans who "travel well, and come out and be spending money." He reassures, "I think people will still come out and we have a big space to shelter people if they get too cold and wet and hungry and thirsty." The dedication of parade-goers appears unfazed even when faced with an unseasonable shower, embodying the resilience that the Rose Parade tradition has come to represent over its 137-year history.
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