The Tournament of Roses Parade The Rose Parade , formally known as The Tournament of Roses Parade , is an annual parade held every New Year ' s Day ( January 1st ) in Pasadena , California since 1890 . Beginning in 1902 , the parade has been traditionally followed by the Rose Bowl college football game . 1982 . In 1982 the theme of the parade was " Friends and Neighbors " . An elaborate float featuring Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog was featured . Piggy was reclining on a chaise while Kermit , decked out in a top hat and bow tie , serenaded her on his banjo . Sweetums and Timmy Monster rode on the float , alongside several children . The float was sponsored by America ' s Credit Unions ( CUNA ) and was the first float in the parade , introducing the theme for the parade . The float was created with Chamois carnations for Miss Piggy ' s complexion , while Kermit was constructed from chopped chartreuse lichen moss over a foundation of sheet moss . The float included over 30 , 000 roses , including Royalty red and Bridal pink . The float itself was constructed by Fiesta Floats . The front of the float featured a Fozzie Bear walk - around positioning his movie camera , hovering over the theme of " Friends and Neighbors . " Among other noteworthy floats were Dr . Pepper ' s " Neighborhood Drive - In " , Montebello California ' s " Good Ol ' Fashioned Friendship " float featuring " The Flintstones " and Bank of America ' s " It ' s a Small World . " The CBS broadcast was co - hosted by Jamie Farr . 1990 . In the 1990 parade , Miss Piggy and Kermit were featured once more ; this time as the Transamerica Life Company ' s entry " Lassoed by Love " . The 55 - foot - long float was festooned with roses , daisies , mums and orchids , and featured a 34 - foot - tall Miss Piggy made of carnations and roses , swinging her lasso at a moss - covered Kermit on a hobby horse . 1996 . On January 1 , 1996 , Kermit the Frog was the Grand Marshal for the 107th Tournament of Roses Parade . He became the first non - human to host the event solo . The parade also featured a float based on " Muppet Treasure Island " . With a theme of " Kids ' Laughter & Dreams " chosen that year , Steve Whitmire performed Kermit as he drove through the parade in the Grand Marshal ' s car . At MuppetFest in 2001 , Whitmire said that day was the most difficult job he ' d had with the Muppets ; as he had to keep his arm up over his head for almost three hours . At San Diego Comic - Con in 2015 , he noted that Brian Henson gave him a plaque afterwards . The " Treasure Island " float featured Kermit , Fozzie Bear , Gonzo , Statler and Waldorf , all in their Treasure Island personas . The float itself won the Humor Award for the most comical and amusing entry . The float itself was sponsored by Kodak . Other Grand Marshalls have included Shirley Temple ( 1939 ) , Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy ( 1940 ) , Bob Hope ( 1947 & 1969 ) , Richard M . Nixon ( 1953 & 1960 ) , Walt Disney ( 1966 ) , Charles M . Schulz ( 1974 ) , Roy Rogers & Dale Evans ( 1977 ) , Gerald R . Ford ( 1978 ) , Frank Sinatra ( 1980 ) Danny Kaye ( 1984 ) , Bob Newhart ( 1991 ) , William Shatner ( 1994 ) , Carol Burnett ( 1998 ) , Buzz Aldrin ( 1999 ) , Regis Philbin ( 2002 ) , Bill Cosby ( 2003 ) , Fred Rogers ( 2003 ) , John Williams ( 2004 ) , Mickey Mouse ( 2005 ) , George Lucas ( 2007 ) , Emeril Lagasse ( 2008 ) , and Cloris Leachman ( 2009 ) . 2004 . In 2004 , the theme was " Music , Music , Music " . NAMM , The Int ' l Music Products Assoc . sponsored a " Sesame Street " float . The design was a toy school bus , with two pull toy wagons following it . Elmo playing a drum rode in the bus , while Big Bird ( playing a trumpet ) , and Abelardo ( from " Plaza Sésamo " ) played the guitar in the second wagon . Riding on the float were many , including Zoe and Cookie Monster . Human cast members also appeared , including Bob and Gordon . Big Bird was made of individual feathers cut from pampas grass and colored with yellow cut strawflower . Abelardo was decorated with golden Juniper tips , and Elmo featured red carnations , sweet rice and amaranthis seeds . 2005 . The 2005 theme was " Celebrate Family " . Once again NAMM sponsored a float titled " Music Makes Us a Family " , featuring the " Sesame Street " characters . Big Bird is playing a piano , while Elmo is playing the drums and Oscar the Grouch is playing the Maracas . The float won the Bob Hope Humor Trophy for most comical and amusing entry . Also appearing on the float were versions of Bert , Ernie , and Zoe . 2008 . In 2008 , the parade included a " Sesame Street " float sponsored by NAMM . It featured floral sculptures of Oscar shaking maracas , Elmo playing a drum , Big Bird , Count von Count standing with his arms wide open , Googly of " Galli Galli Sim Sim " playing the flute , Halum the Bengal Tiger from " Sisimpur " , and Lola , a pink monster from " Plaza Sésamo " . 2009 . The NAMM float with the Music For All organization in 2009 is to feature one large float with Big Bird as a bandleader and the Sesame Street lamp post , followed by smaller floats with Elmo , Abby Cadabby , and Oscar the Grouch . Bob McGrath was on the float . A collection of 300 high school band members from across the country will play in the parade . The Music for All Honor Band , created for the event , played a melody of " Sesame Street " songs arranged by Michael Klesch and Thom Hannum .