The biggest celebrities of them all: the 2020 Tournament of Roses Royal Court. L-R, Rose Queen Camille Kennedy, Rose Princesses Emilie Risha, Reese Rosental Saporito, Mia Thorsen, Michael Wilkins, Rukan Saif, Cole Fox.
by Laura Berthold Monteros
At the Tournament of Roses Parade, the real celebrities are the gorgeous floral creations that float along the parade route on New Year’s Day. The 131st Rose Parade, held on Jan. 1, 2020, was no exception. But that doesn’t mean there are no human celebrities! Riding along Colorado Blvd. in flower-bedecked antique vehicles is a tradition for the people that the current president chooses to represent the theme she has chosen, this year, Pres. Laura Farber chose “The Power of Hope.”
You can read more about them by exploring the 2020 Tournament of Roses page on this website. You can see them, nestled in the seats of beautiful vehicles and waving to the crowds, in the gallery below. Information about the cars is in the captions.
Grand Marshal Rita Moreno, actress, singer, dancer, activist, and EGOT winner, rode in a 1910 Pope-Hartford Touring Car, owned by Gary and Sheryl Hunter and driven by Cole Capps.
Grand Marshal Gina Torres, actress and opera singer, is known for her roles Firefly and Suits. She rode in a 1911 Pope-Hartford model W with a seven-passenger touring body. The Gooding family has owned this car for over 50 years.
Grand Marshal Laurie Hernandez, winner of Olympic Gold and Silver medals as a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team, rode in a 1910 Pope-Hartford Model T. It was restored in the 60's by Bill Harrah from Harrah's casinos.
Grand Marshals Laurie Hernandez and Gina Torres take the turn from Orange Grove Blvd. to Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Herald Trumpets usher in the Royal Court.
Tournament of Roses Royal Court for 2020, on a float caped with roses: Rose Queen Camille Kennedy, with Rose Princesses on the left, Emilie Risha, Mia Thorsen, Rukan Saif; on the right, Reese Rosental Saporito, Michael Wilkins, Cole Fox.
2020 Tournament of Roses Royal Court: Rose Queen Camille Kennedy, with Rose Princesses on the left, Emilie Risha, Mia Thorsen, Rukan Saif; on the right, Reese Rosental Saporito, Michael Wilkins, Cole Fox.
2020 Tournament of Roses Royal Court, L-R, Rose Queen Camille Kennedy, Rose Princesses Emilie Risha, Reese Rosental Saporito, Mia Thorsen, Michael Wilkins, Rukan Saif, Cole Fox.
Camille Kennedy, the 102nd Rose Queen.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band made its 91st appearance in the Rose Parade. The PCC Lancer Band is joined 230 high schoolers who auditioned for slots. Kyle Luck is the PCC Director of Bands.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band made its 91st appearance in the Rose Parade. The PCC Lancer Band is joined 230 high schoolers who auditioned for slots. Kyle Luck is the PCC Director of Bands.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band made its 91st appearance in the Rose Parade. The PCC Lancer Band is joined 230 high schoolers who auditioned for slots. Kyle Luck is the PCC Director of Bands.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band made its 91st appearance in the Rose Parade. The PCC Lancer Band is joined 230 high schoolers who auditioned for slots. Kyle Luck is the PCC Director of Bands.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band made its 91st appearance in the Rose Parade. The PCC Lancer Band is joined 230 high schoolers who auditioned for slots. Kyle Luck is the PCC Director of Bands.
Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek (waving with left hand) rode in a handcrafted replica of an 1880 Abbott Downing Hotel Coach. It can accommodate 24 passengers. The eight-horse hitch of rare black and white colored from Express Ranches is owned by Bob Funk of Yukon, Okla.
Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek (waving with left hand) rode in a handcrafted replica of an 1880 Abbott Downing Hotel Coach. It can accommodate 24 passengers. The eight-horse hitch of rare black and white colored from Express Ranches is owned by Bob Funk of Yukon, Okla.
Rose Bowl Hall of Fame honorees Class of 2019: A representative of Eddie Casey (Harvard), Jacque Robinson (University of Washington), Cornelius Greene (Ohio State), Matt Leinart (USC). In celebration of its 250th anniversary, the City of Monterey, Calif. lent its first mechanized fire engine, a 1916 Seagrave, to the TOR.
Tournament of Roses Pres. Laura Farber rides with her husband Tomás Lopez and their children Christopher and Jessica in a 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost owned by Gary and Sheryl Hunter.
Tournament of Roses Pres. Laura Farber rides with her husband Tomás Lopez and their children Christopher and Jessica in a 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost owned by Gary and Sheryl Hunter.
Pres. Farber added Honored Guests to the parade this year. Sonia Manzano, “Maria” on Sesame Street, Jaime Jarrin, the Spanish voice of the Dodgers, and Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space rode in a 1915 Pierce Arrow Model 48.
Pres. Farber added Honored Guests to the parade this year. Sonia Manzano, “Maria” on Sesame Street, Jaime Jarrin, the Spanish voice of the Dodgers, and Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space rode in a 1915 Pierce Arrow Model 48.
The Tournament of Roses Parade steers clear of being a parade of personalities, but there are five VIP entries every year: Tournament president, Grand Marshal, Pasadena mayor, Rose Bowl Hall of Fame inductees, and of course, the Rose Queen and Royal Court. The gallery below includes the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band and Herald Trumpets, because when it comes to Pasadena celebrities, they are right up there.
Today, center stage are Pres. Lance Tibbet, Rose Queen Isabella Marez and the Rose Princesses introduced by the Herald Trumpets, Mayor Terry Tornek, and the Tournament of Roses Honor Band. The information on each is in the captions with the photos. We’ve already written about Grand Marshal Gary Sinise in “Honoring vets in the 2018 Rose Parade” and will cover the sports aspect of the parade and more about the cars and flowering in upcoming pieces.
A bit about the band: It’s comprised of the PCC Lancer Band, plus 200 of the more than 500 high school music students who auditioned. Jack Taylor is the band director, Tad Carpenter is the percussion director, and Dr. James Arnwine, dean of the Performing Arts at PPC, served as the assistant band director.
All photos are copyrighted by LB Monteros. Contact for permissions.
Tournament of Roses Pres. Lance Tibbet and his family ride in a 1929 Packard Model 633. It was driven in Australia, hence the right-hand steering wheel.
Even security guards smile at the Rose Parade! Pres. Lance Tibbet and his family ride in a 1929 Packard Model 633. It was driven in Australia, hence the right-hand steering wheel.
Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets announce the float bearing 100th Rose Queen Isabella Marez and the 2018 Royal Court.
Being one of the nine Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets is a coveted spot for trumpeters. A snare drummer keeps the tempo.
100th Rose Queen Isabella Marez, with Rose Princesses, clockwise from her left, Alexandra Artura, Savannah Bradley, Lauren Buehner, Georgia Cervenka, Sydney Pickering, Julianne Lauenstein.
100th Rose Queen Isabella Marez, with Rose Princesses, clockwise from her left, Alexandra Artura, Savannah Bradley, Lauren Buehner, Georgia Cervenka, Sydney Pickering, Julianne Lauenstein.
Queen Isabella demonstrates that one can wear a sleeveless gown in 40-degree weather and remain joyful.
Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek packed his family into a 1924 Model TT truck. Originally a produce truck and then a jitney (5-cent) bus, the vehicle served as transportation during transit strikes.
Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek packed his family into a 1924 Model TT truck. Originally a produce truck and then a jitney (5-cent) bus, the vehicle served as transportation during transit strikes.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band includes talented high schoolers who audition for the limited slots to augment the PCC Lancer Band.
PCC Tournament of Roses Honor Band Majorette Hokanson is bedecked with sequined roses.
PCC Tournament of Roses Honor Band Drum Major Hayworth leads the unit in “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”
PCC Tournament of Roses Honor Band color guard tall flags and banners display the red, white, and gold of the Tournament.
PCC Tournament of Roses Honor Band color guard tall flags and banners display the red, white, and gold of the Tournament.
PCC Honor Band Sousaphones and percussion prepare to take the 109-degree turn from Orange Grove onto Colorado.