It started out more than 100 years ago as a way to attract a few tourists to the little resort town of Pasadena, California. But from that first New Year's Day in 1889 it grew...and grew...and grew. Today, the Tournament of Roses, including the Rose Parade, features more than 100 elaborate flower-covered floats from around the world, marching bands, equestrian groups and international television coverage.
Charles F. Holder, president of the town's Valley Hunt Club, came up with the idea of a parade to be followed by an afternoon of games. He wanted the event to celebrate the ripening of the oranges, of which the city at that time had many.
The first year the event included a parade of flower-covered carriages and an afternoon of games in the open field.
Early Tournaments of Roses featured egg and spoon relays, foot races and hurdles, plus a game called a tournament of rings, a Spanish jousting game in which horsemen with lances try to spear rings. From the name of this game eventually came the official title for New Year's Day event.
By 1895 the event had outgrown the Valley Hunt Club, so the Tournament of Roses Association formed to continue the event. By end century the Rose Parade had become a major tourist attraction.
Though now the event is associated with football, it wasn't always that way. In 1902 there was a football game, but in 1904 the Tournament featured chariot races. It wasn't until 1916 that football became a permanent part of the day-long event.
