The Tournament of Roses Parade kicks off the new year on Jan. 1, 2013 at 11 a.m. eastern time and will be broadcast on NBC, ABC and the Hallmark Channel. The parade lasts about two hours.
The theme of the 2013 parade is "Oh, The Places You'll Go" as inspired by a Dr. Seuss book.
This year's grand marshall will be Dr. Jane Goodall.
The parade dates back to 1890 when, to celebrate California's mild winter climate, the Tournament's founders and Valley Hunt Club members, Dr. Francis Rowland and Prof. Charles Holder, created a floral festival patterned after the "Battle of the Flowers" in Nice, France. It was initially a modest procession of flower-covered carriages with afternoon "games" including foot races, tug-of-war contests and sack races, according to the Rose Parade website.
(Editor's Note: This article has been revised to correct the year that the Rose Parade began)
