Utes, Buckeyes, and Other Tourists Navigate Pandemic to Land in Pasadena – Pasadena Star News

The coronavirus pandemic stays on many minds this New Year’s Day, but that didn’t stop college football fans from Utah and Ohio from joining with tourists from around the world on Saturday to watch the 133rd Rose Parade.

The traditional Pasadena procession on Colorado Boulevard took place just days after local health officials closed in 2021, reporting a record number of coronavirus cases each day. But a lot of people have come to the New Year tradition and ticked off one item from their bucket list.

The crowd watches the 133rd Rose Parade in Pasadena on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

Former Los Angeles resident Maria Hernandez now lives in Indiana, but after watching Rose Parade for decades, she calls the intersection of Lake Avenue and Colorado Boulevard the corner of the family.

That’s just one reason she felt it was important to make the 2,100 mile journey from Indiana to see this year’s parade again. Another is that her daughters have an opportunity that she has enjoyed since she was old.

“It’s very important that you can see the tradition, the hard work that is behind it,” said Hernandez. “We lived in LA when I was a kid, so I saw all the craftsmanship that went into it. So it’s not just something they can see on TV. You have to appreciate that personally. “

The Hernandez family from Los Angeles arrived in town just before this year’s Rose Parade

Hernandez and her two daughters were sleeping in a car when they arrived in Pasadena at around 1 a.m. on Saturday. “And then we slept there for a couple of hours. And then we finally got here around 5am, ”she said.

However, the former Angeleno wasn’t the only one to take a trip on the occasion.

Cindi Taylor, Dennis Rasor and Marissa Strauch shop for Ohio State merchandise at the 133rd Rose Parade in Pasadena on January 1, 2022. (Photo: Lisa Jacobs)

Cindi Taylor and her daughter Marissa Strauch traveled from Columbus to cheer on their Ohio State Buckeyes. Taking part in the Rose Parade was a point on the bucket list for Taylor, who came with her brother Dennis Rasor, who lives in Dana Point.

Taylor made a great sacrifice. She said she was against Ohio State, which played in the national championship game, “so they could get to the Rose Bowl.”

Vickie Summerhays celebrates her January 1st birthday at the 133rd Rose Parade. She is with Bruce Smith. They were in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl Game but said there was no way they would miss the parade. (Photo by Lisa Jacobs)

For the University of Utah fans, Bruce Smith and Vickie Summerhays, the Rose Parade was especially festive. January 1st is Summerhays’ birthday and she said it was fun being in Pasadena for a once in a lifetime experience.

“We’re really only here for the game,” said Smith, “but we certainly won’t miss the parade.”

The Martinez family, also from Utah, also arrived in town just before the hundreds of talented teenage musicians marched alongside this year’s riding teams and larger-than-life wagons.

When the family of four left a gift shop while their other Utah Utes fans went shopping inside, Trisha Martinez explained that the family of five had a flight less than 24 hours before Grand Marshal LeVar Burton and Royal Court 2022 departures from Tournament House planned from Utah for the start of the spectacle in 2022.

The Martinez family from Utah also arrived in town just before hundreds of talented teenage musicians marched alongside this year’s riding teams and larger-than-life wagons. (Brennon Dixson, Pasadena Star News)

“We wanted to get out, but we waited until yesterday to buy our ticket,” said Martinez. “We got here super late last night, but we’re super excited.”

The Martinez family hoped to take a break from the 18-degree weather that plagued them in Utah with a trip to the Santa Monica Pier

“But we will see. It’s going to be a short trip. ”Martinez joked that the early morning California cold had no effect on her or her family. “We’re about to lose our jackets.”