The Rose Parade, which drew enormous fanfare from across the country before the pandemic, has returned after a one-year hiatus.While the return of the Rose Parade is seen by many as a cheerful respite from two painful pandemic years, it is clouded by a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom float.(KTLA)
In years past, sidewalks would be packed by sunrise. The shouts and laughter of New Year’s revelers trickling out of bars would echo throughout the streets. Sidewalks would be cluttered with trash from campers and partiers. Traffic would congest local streets and freeways.But this year, there was no traffic, parking was a breeze and parade-goers easily found empty parking spots off Colorado Boulevard.
The Sierra Madre float Nature’s Classroom in the 2022 Rose Parade.(KTLA)
LeAnn Rimes opens the 2022 Rose Parade.(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
The Rose Parade crowd gathers to view the floats along Colorado Blvd.(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
City of Alhambra float called “School Rocks,” in the 2022 Rose Parade.(KTLA)
Trader Joe’s float called “You Are Invited,” in the 2022 Rose Parade.(KTLA)
United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band in the 2022 Rose Parade.(KTLA)
People get a close-up view of the the Rose Parade Floats floats along Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena.(Kuysung Gong/For The Times)
The UPS store float called “Rise, Shine & Read,” in the 2022 Rose Parade.(KTLA)
The crowd at the 2022 Rose Parade.(Kuysung Gong/For The Times)
The Homewood Patriot Band, Homewood, Alabama in the 2022 Rose Parade.(KTLA)
Morgan Bell wakes up along the Rose Parade route on January 1, 2022 in Los Pasadena, California. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
Angel Diaz improvises to stay warm along the Rose Parade route on January 1, 2022.(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
Members of the Aragon family of Palmdale camp on the street for the first time to see the Rose Bowl parade on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)