(Cheryl A. Guerrero/Times Community News)
(Cheryl A. Guerrero/Times Community News)


The Tournament of Roses has unveiled a full slate of activities in the days leading up to and after the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl on Monday, Jan. 2.

From Thursday through Saturday, the public can view Rose float decorating at three locations, the Rose Palace at 835 S. Raymond Ave., the Rosemont Pavilion at 700 Seco St., and Brookside Pavilion on the south side of Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive. Decorating takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults. Children under 5 are free.

The Brookside Pavilion site will also offer the public views as the official cars of the Rose Parade are decorated.

From 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, Rose Queen Drew Washington and the members of the Royal Court open the visitor hotline by taking calls from the public. The queen will be at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.

On Friday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, the horses who are stars of the parade will be on display at Equestfest. The horses will perform in the equestrian arena from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $15. Children under 5 get in free.

Also on Friday, the first Bandfest show takes over Robinson Stadium at Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. Seven of the bands that will march in the parade will perform from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Performers include the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Band; the Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band; the Los Angeles Unified School District All District High School Honor Band; the Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band; Banda Escolar de Guayanilla; the Mercer Island High School Marching Band; and the All-Lubbock High School Westerner Band.

Tickets are $15. Children under 5 get in free.
Bandfest 2 and Bandfest 3 hit the stadium at Pasadena City College on Saturday. The first show, from 9 a.m. to noon, features the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Band; the Siloam Springs High School Band; the Needham B. Broughton High School Band; the Crestview High School Marching Band; the Calgary Stampede Showband; the Kyoto Tachibana High School Green Band; and the Avon High School Marching Black & Gold Band.

The second show, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., features Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Band; the Royal Swedish Navy Cadet Band; the Ben Davis High School Marching Giants; the American Fork High School Marching Band; the Pulaski High School Red Raider Marching Band; the Franklin Regional High School Marching Band; and the University of Oregon Marching Band.
Tickets are $15. Children under 5 get in free.

On Saturday float and care decorating continue on a limited schedule. Rosemont Pavilion will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Rose Palace from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Car decorating takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Rose Bowl Stadium lot 1.

Tickets are $10 for adults. Children under 5 are free.

The Rose Bowl Kickoff luncheon takes place in Rose Bowl Stadium Lot K at noon on Saturday. Celebrity sportscasters present University of Wisconsin and University of Oregon caches, athletes, marching bands and pep squads, the Rose Queen and Royal Court, as well as the new members of the Rose Bowl Game Hall of Fame.

Tickets are $90.

The 123rd Rose Parade begins at 8 a.m. Monday with 44 floats, 22 equestrian units and 21 marching bands marching the 5.5.-mile route.

At 1:30 p.m. the Wisconsin Badgers clash with the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl. For tickets and more information, visit www.tournamentofroses.com.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 2 and 3, post-parade events include a showcase floats at two sites: Sierra Madre Boulevard between Washington Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue; and on Washington between Sierra Madre and Woodlyn Road.

The public is welcome from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. A special viewing period for seniors and the disabled will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Tickets are $10 per person. Children under 5 get in free.

-- Bill Kisliuk, Times Community News

Photo: Volunteers decorate floats at the Rose Palace in Pasadena on Saturday, December 10, 2011. Credit: Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer.