Spirits High For Rose Parade
Sleepy spectators huddled around curbside barbecues to await the start of the 116th Rose Parade, where floats depicting everything from a towering robot to a 207-foot locomotive were planned.
Spectators lugged sleeping bags, portable heaters, folding chairs and other creature comforts to brace for an overnight stay in temperatures predicted to dip into the 40s.
Jennifer Betanzourt, 27, pitched a tent and set up a barbecue grill for a meal of carne asada, hamburgers and Italian sausage - and also hoped the grill would keep her warm.
"It's fun seeing all the crazy people going up and down the street," she said.
The parade on Saturday features 50 flower-covered floats that reflect its "Celebrate Family" theme. The lineup also includes 25 marching bands and 26 equestrian units, with Disney icon Mickey Mouse serving as grand marshal.
The floats - costing as much as $350,000 each - range from fanciful to spectacular.
An entry by Disneyland will lead the procession. The replica of Sleeping Beauty Castle stands 45 feet high and celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the theme park.
A massive 50-foot robot marks the first Rose Parade entry from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology. It depicts a robot astronaut with a jet pack that fires carbon dioxide vapors.
American Honda will field the longest float in Rose Parade history - a 207-foot locomotive.
Forecasters predicted a 20 percent chance of rain for the parade and Rose Bowl game. It hasn't rained on the parade since 1955.
"We're ready for the judges, we're ready for the parade, and we're ready for the rain to go away," said Larry Palmer, a spokesman for float builder Phoenix Decorating Co.
Later in the day, Big Ten co-champion Michigan will meet the Texas Longhorns in the 91st Rose Bowl game. Texas is making its debut in the nation's oldest bowl game.
For the first time, directors of the game will allow donations to be accepted inside the stadium to aid victims of the devastating tsunami in southern Asia. The Red Cross will have eight donation stations accessible only to game ticket holders, said Dereck Andrade, a spokesman for the group's San Gabriel Valley chapter.
Security is tight for the parade and game; about 1,000 officers from several law enforcement agencies will be on patrol.
"Some of it will be very visible and some will be absolutely invisible," said Janet Pope, a spokeswoman for the Pasadena Police Department.
By Paul Chavez