Parade Facts

General information and fun facts about Rose Parade 2006.

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Rose Parade 2006

When: Monday, Jan. 2, at 11am e/8am p

Where: Pasadena, California

Theme: It's Magical

TV coverage: Home & Garden Television (HGTV)

Grand marshal: Sandra Day O'Connor

Length of parade: 5-1/2 miles

Floral floats: 48

Equestrian units: 22

Marching bands: 26

Special entries: Five (B-2 Flyover, Pace Car, Grand Marshal, Mayor of Pasadena, Tournament of Roses President)

Number of times it has rained: Nine

Last time it rained: 1955

Lowest overpass: 17.5 feet. Any float that's taller than 17 feet has to be collapsible to go under the overpass.

Other Fun Facts for 2006:

Soaring nearly 50 feet high and 150 feet long, the Disney Parks float "The Most Magical Celebration on Earth" is the longest Rose Parade entry this year.

Other Fun Facts for 2006:

The Bayer Advanced float "Jack and the Rose Stalk" features a magical rose vine that climbs more than 50 feet into the air, providing the tallest rose in Rose Parade history.

The City of Los Angeles is the Tournament of Roses' longest continual float sponsor, with its 2006 entry representing 108 years of parade participation.

The oldest equestrian rider is the young-at-heart Bert Bonnett, who is 95 years old. A member of the All American Donkey and Mule Riders, Bonnett has ridden in seven Rose Parades. In his youth, he drove a mule team to help excavate Union Station in Los Angeles.

This year's Rose Parade features three entertainment floats: award-winning singer Toni Braxton will perform on the NAMM float; children will sing the U.S. premiere of the newest Disney song "One" on the Disney float; and world champion magician Lance Burton will perform on the FTD float.

The Tournament of Roses was founded in 1890 to celebrate California's mild winter climate and is patterned after the "Battle of the Flowers" in Nice, France. It was initially a modest procession of flower-covered carriages and afternoon games, including foot races, tug-of-war contests and sack races.

The Tournament of Roses has a "Never on Sunday" policy. In 1893, officials decided to move the parade to Monday, January 2, to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches. As a result of this reverent gesture, speculation abounds as to the rare instances of rainfall on New Year's Day (only nine times in Rose Parade history); prompting some to wonder if the Tournament has a pact with a "friend upstairs."

Some of the world's most distinguished individuals have served as grand marshal. Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Hope, Walt Disney, Shirley Temple Black, Bob Newhart, Angela Lansbury, Tom Brokaw, Bill Cosby and Mickey Mouse are just a few of the famous personalities who have held the venerable position.