LA Metro says go car-less to Rose Parade, Rose Bowl by taking transit and hoofing it a bit. Here’s how

With so many streets closed in Pasadena on Jan. 1 and parking spots scarce and those that are available are at premium prices, LA Metro offers transit options for attending the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl, and other parade-related events.

 Rose Parade

The main line with six stations in Pasadena is the A Line light-rail, which runs from Long Beach to Pomona. The A Line also has six stations in Downtown L.A., where it connects with the B Line, D Line and E Line trains, as well as the J Line bus.

From the A Line’s Del Mar Station, riders should walk 0.3 miles north on Raymond Avenue to the parade route on Colorado Boulevard. Or, if you want to catch the beginning and see the floats lining up, that’s an 0.8-mile walk to Green street and Orange Grove Boulevard. Parade starts at 8 a.m. sharp.

To catch the middle of the parade route, exit the train at the Memorial Park Station. It’s only a 0.2-mile walk south on Arroyo Parkway to Colorado Boulevard.

From the Lake Station (Lake Avenue at the 210 Freeway), walk south on Lake Avenue about 0.4 miles to the parade on Colorado Boulevard.

Allen Station: Walk 0.4 miles south on Allen Avenue to the parade route.

If you’re coming to Pasadena from Orange County or the Inland Empire:

From the IE: Metrolink or Amtrak to Union Station, and from there the A Line.

From Orange County: Amtrak and Metrolink both can get you to Union Station, and from there the A Line.

112th Rose Bowl game

This year’s football game pits No. 1-ranked Indiana against No. 9 Alabama. And this year, the game starts at 1 p.m., an hour earlier than usual.

The best way is to take the A Line to the Memorial Park Station in Pasadena. Turn right as you exit and follow signs on Holly Street to the free shuttle buses leaving from the parking lot at the corner of Holly and Corson streets.

The shuttle to the Rose Bowl runs from 9 a.m. until two hours after the end of the game.

Bandfest

To watch and listen to the marching bands, flag and cheerleading squads perform before the Jan. 1 parade, Bandfest is the place. It’s happening at Pasadena City College, Robinson Stadium on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30. The college is located at 1570 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena.

• Bandfest 1 – Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. (Pre-Show at 1:30 p.m.)
• Bandfest 2 – Dec. 30 at 10:00 a.m. (Pre-Show at 9:30 a.m.)
• Bandfest 3 – Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. (Pre-Show at 1:30 p.m.)

General admission tickets are $26.50.

Take the A Line to Allen Station. Then walk 0.9 miles to Robinson Stadium. By bus, take the LA Metro 180 bus that stops at Colorado Boulevard and Hill Street on the north side of the campus. That’s about a 10 minute walk to the stadium.

Or take the 267 bus and stop at Del Mar Avenue and Hill Street.

Floatfest

After the parade, see the floats up close lined up in a 2-mile showcase near Victory Park.

Floatfest will run from January 1 to 3, 2026, at the intersection of Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards in Pasadena.

The schedule for Floatfest is as follows:

Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Jan. 2, from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. is reserved for seniors and people with mobility disabilities; Jan. 2 from 9 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.; Jan. 3 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tickets are $26.50; children five and under are free.

Take the A Line to the Sierra Madre Villa Station. From the ground floor, locate the shuttle bus service to the event.

Metro adult fares are $1.75 per one-way trip or $3.50 roundtrip with free transfers for two hours.

Riders can either purchase a plastic TAP card from TAP vending machines at all Metro Rail and Busway stations and load fare on it. Or, use a digital TAP card on your smartphone.