2019 Rose Parade Is Here With a New Twist

The 2019 Rose Parade airs on Tuesday with a lot of the old style but updated for 2019 with a new twist.

Some of the new things happening this Rose Parade is that the legendary Chaka Khan will serve as the grand marshal. Not only is the icon going to ride in one of the cars, but she will also be doing what she does best and what everybody wants to see – sing. Also, Louis Deser Siskel, the 101st Rose Queen came out that she is bisexual and Jewish.

The familiar aspects of the parade and what everybody comes to expect are the floats (this year there will be 40), 18 equestrian units and 21 marching bands. The Pasadena parade opens up the Rose Bowl. This year it will be the Washington Huskies going up against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The familiar heart of the Pasadena event will bring together 40 floats, 21 marching bands and 18 equestrian units. The parade also serves as a prelude to the Rose Bowl, this year pitting the Washington Huskies against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The floats are assembled with as many natural materials as possible, with a palette of different colors.

The selection of marching bands come from around the world. One high school band comes from Flower Mound Texas another is the all-star marching band from Kaneohe, Hawaii named Na Koa Ali’I. Japan’s All-Izumo Honor Green Band is scheduled to perform as well as Banda Escolar coming from Guayanilla, Puerto Rico.

Supporting the equestrian part of the parade will include the Little Miss Norco Cowgirls Jr. Drill Team, Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Tea and from Calabasas the Mini Therapy Horses.

The Donate Life float for the 16th year is in the parade, and its mission is to get the word out and educate people about organ donation. The theme for the parade this year showcases the rhythms and diversity of Africa which keeps with the overall theme of the parade which is ‘The Melody Of Life.’ The float will also incorporate 44 floral portraits which will honor donors who have died.

Twenty-six living donors or those who are recipients of a transplant will either walk or ride beside the float.

Some floats will showcase African drums such as the Kuba from the Congo, the djembe from Senega, a large marimba from Ghana and a kora from Burkino Faso.

A brand new float will come from the restaurant chain Chipotle. The float will feature a red tractor which is to symbolize the importance of farms. Riding on the float will be people who have grown or supplied ingredients used at Chipotle. Portugal. The Man will also be performing.

The float which is caused ‘Cultivate a Better World’ is made with ingredients used in Chipotle restaurants which includes 200 pounds of chili flakes which the tractor will be covered in. The tires are made out of ground onion seeds and the cart will be covered with bay leaves, oregano, cloves, and cumin. White rice is used for letter and over 100 pounds of lemons will be hanging in the trees. When the parade is over, everything will be recycled and turned into compost.

Organizers of the parade have always tried to feature Southern California’s diversity.

In 1995 the first African American was named as rose queen. The Tournament of Roses in 2006 had as president its first female. This year Gerald Freeny who is African American is serving as president.

There is still only a queen and no king. This year the queen is a high school senior who attends the Tony Private School in Pasadena. Siskel will wear her glasses, which is not traditional. She stated in an op-ed piece in the Times that she knows the importance of the platform she was granted. She describes herself as the first Rose Queen who is going to talk about what it is like being Jewish. She also says she feels a responsibility, to be honest with herself and the LGBT community and tell people that she is bisexual.

She stated that she is sure that she is not the first LGBT person to be part of the court, she hopes by coming out she will help people be proud and comfortable about who they are.

Ways To Watch The Rose Parade

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019

Time: 11 a.m. ET

Location: Pasadena, Calif.

TV: ABC, NBC, Hallmark, KTLA 5 and more

Online Stream: WatchESPN, NBC, ABC, KTLA 5, Hallmark Channel

Written By Barbara Sobel

Sources:

Los Angeles Times: 2019 Rose Parade has 40 floats, 21 marching bands, and a proud Jewish, LGBTQ queen
SBNation: Rose Parade 2019 live stream: Time, TV schedule, and how to watch online
Pasadena Star-News: Live Rose Parade 2019 coverage of every float, marching band and more

Featured and Top Image Courtesy Of Lara Farhadi’s Flickr Page