How the Rose Parade Will Look on New Year's Day 2021
Normally around this time of year, the bleachers have already been erected through Pasadena and hundreds of thousands of people are preparing to camp out on city streets to catch a glimpse of the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1 to welcome in the first day of the new year.
It's a tradtion that dates back to 1891 and had only been cancelled three times during WWII, but now the Rose Parade has been put on hold for a fourth time and plans for this year's event including the theme, Dream. Believe. Achieve, the royal court and selected floats and bands have been rolled over to 2022.
In its place, the Tournament of Roses Association has produced a two-hour pre-taped special entitled The Rose Parade's New Year Celebration. The association delivered the special in segments so that each outlet could insert their own hosts as wraparounds. KTLA's show will feature its anchors while NBC's edition will be hosted by Hoda Kotb and Al Roker.
"As we worked with our broadcast partners to put the show together we filmed it in a variety of segments that will be pieced together and the broadcasters have the ability to use their discretion in how they want that show to look. The show was produced in a very flexible manner. We did film some segments here in Pasadena and live performances for the show were shot in Nashville. You're going to see musical entertainment that is not typically carried to that degree in the parade. In the parade, we usually have musical entertainment in the opening and closing. Last year we did do a mid-parade number where we had the Broadway cast of Frozen. There will be some flashbacks to floats from past parades and the show has also worked with the Cal Poly universities in Pomona and San Luis Obispo to give a behind-the-scenes look at how a Rose Parade float is built. Past parade grand marshalls such as Vin Scully, Rita Moreno and Emeril Lagasse will be featured."
David Eads, Executive Director/CEO Pasadena Tournament of Roses.
David Eads
At NBC, the network has built a set for Kotb and Roker featuring a cascade of flowers designed by Lewis Miller who's known for "Flower Flash".
A Lewis Miller Floral Creation in NYC
Lewis Miller with Martha Stewart
The special's segments were taped in a variety of locations around the country including at the Rose Bowl and it will have a focus on music featuring an opening performance by Tori Kelly at the Rose Bowl site.
The decision to pivot to the special came after the Tournament of Roses Parade was officially canceled in July. As early as spring organizers started figuring out their contingency plans. This year's special will not be a rehash of old parades with bands and equestrian units and floats. What viewers will see on New Year's Day this year will be a focused entertainment special in the true spirit of the Rose Parade.
So now with the arrival of the vaccine, the hope is that they will definitely be able to move forward with a live parade, once again, on January 1, 2022. Until then ..
Be Safe in 2021.
Pat Locke, Maestro Muse
