With New Year’s Day just around the corner, Mark Leavens, President of the Tournament of Roses, joins us to preview the iconic Rose Parade. From what’s new this year to how organizers prepare for everything from perfect sunshine to rare rainy forecasts, Leavens shares behind-the-scenes insights into the teamwork, tradition, and planning that bring this world-famous parade to life—no matter the weather.
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Episode Transcript
Every New Year's Day, the world wakes up to one
of the most iconic traditions in America, and this year,
despite the possible heavy rainfall, the show must go on.
Organizers say the Rose Parade will make its way through
Pasadena rain or shine. The Tournament of Roses Parade blends pageantry, storytelling,
and jaw dropping floral designs, and the man helping guide
(00:22):
that vision is President Mark Levin's. He joins us now
to talk about what's new, what fans can expect this year,
and how the parade is coming together. Mark, what part
are you most looking forward to?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well, I mean there's there's a lot of things. I mean,
as always, we've we've got a few new floats, and
I think we've got some flu you know, a few
floats that are coming back that are exciting. Some of
the traditional floats that we've gotten our parade. Trader Joe's
has a very fun float this year, and they've got
i think more moving parts on a float than we've
(00:53):
ever seen, and all their employees will be marching alongside
or on the float, so that's very exciting. Ups Store
has another wonderful float celebrating team work with seahorses, and
then America two fifty celebrating the two hundred and fiftieth
anniversary of America's coming in this year, and they've got
a very exciting float with three bald eagles celebrating the past, present,
(01:17):
in the future of the United States. So that's going
to be Those are going to be some of the
float highlights. I think we look forward to seeing this year.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I love seeing all the floats march down Colorado Boulevard.
But also one of my favorite parts is the marching bands,
all the entertainment, even the equestrian units. Can you talk
a little bit about the entertainment that we'll see.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, there's so much entertainment, Absolutely one of the highlights
of the parade, And you know, from a celebrity standpoint,
we've got some great entertainment segments. One opening the start
of our parade with Bishop Briggs and sh'll open the parade,
(01:57):
and then about a little while later we'll have a
performance from Visit Mississippi with Charlie Worsham, and then and
our mid parade performance will have a great segment brought
to us by Louisiana Tourism and Explore Louisiana with John
Foster and then the last of our big entertainment will
(02:20):
be our grand finale featuring Capital Cities and then the
winners of the Voice the NBC's the Voice Mic Drop
Competition Deck of Hearts. So those four segments are going
to be super entertaining. And in addition, as you mentioned,
the marching bands. The marching bands really bring the heart
(02:41):
and the soul and the rhythm to our parades. And
we've got bands from all over the United States, great
bands from Alabama and South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas,
and we've got two bands international only from one from Osaka,
(03:01):
Japan and one from Vera Cruz, Mexico. And each of
them will bring their own culture and their own style
and their own musical talents to the parade, so they
make it so entertaining and just give the heartbeat to
the parade.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
So we know that rain is in the forecast for
New Year's Day, unfortunately, and the City of Pasadena has
been warning people who plan to attend the Rose Pary
not to bring any umbrellas the city suggests wearing rain
jackets or ponchos so everyone can enjoy the show. This
actually is going to be the first time since two
thousand and six that it's rained on the Rose Paray day.
(03:37):
What other tips can you share with people who are
visiting this year?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
The parade has got five and a half miles of
places and there's something for everyone. So some people prefer
to sit on the sidewalk and watch the parade. If
you want to do that and find a good spot, well,
you know, you got to come early because some of
these some of the people that come year after year
kind of stake out their terrace. But if you want
(04:01):
to sit in a grand stand and get a good
view of the float, so you can work with our
ticket partner, Sharp Seating, And there's brand stands all along
the five and a half mile of the parade route.
And then you know to watch the parade. Everything will
go by pretty quickly, So you know, things start at
eight o'clock at the very start of the parade, and
then within two hours everything will go by, all eighty
(04:24):
some units that we have in this year's parade.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
The Rose Parade really is an iconic symbol of community
and celebration for us here in southern California. And as president,
what message do you hope that the parade sends this
year to people not just here in southern California, but
to those who may be watching from around the world.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Our message every year is that we bring the joy
and the hope of new beginnings, and certainly our community
here in the Los Angeles Areas had a rough start
to the year, and we look forward to twenty twenty
six starting out with that new beginning and that looking
forward and how we can be hopeful and joyful going
(05:05):
into the brand new year.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I think that sounds like a wonderful start to the
new year. Rain or no rain will be there ready
to celebrate Mark Levin's twenty twenty six Tournament of Roses. President,
thank you for your time
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Thank you, thank you for having us, and thank you
for letting us talk about the Rose Parade.
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