Every fall, Rose Parade lovers start speculating.
What fascinating, potentially famous person will lead the Colorado Boulevard brigade in a vehicle bedecked with floral sprays?
Who will be the man, woman, group or inanimate object of the moment helming the 5.5-mile New Year’s Day global extravaganza?
Will a solo grand marshal get the honor? Or will it be a group of notables? Or could it be a beloved character such as Mickey Mouse (2005) or Kermit the Frog (1996)?
And, though speculation about the “who” is most intriguing, the “how” a grand marshal is chosen is a fascinating tale of tradition and perseverence.
It’s well-known among Rose Parade fans that the Tournament of Roses president picks the theme and an accompanying grand marshal.
But, it turns out, the process for selecting the two for a given year’s Rose Parade happens almost a decade prior. And, that’s because Rose Parade theme and grand marshal are inextricably tied to the selection process and ascension of the Tournament of Roses president itself.
Take the case of 2024 Tournament of Roses President Alex Aghajanian.
The attorney and father of three has spent more than half of his life volunteering with the Tournament. Way back at the 100th anniversary of the parade, Aghajanian said, was when he first applied to become a member.
That was 35 years ago.
In those intervening years, Aghajanian rose through the ranks. As all Tournament volunteers do, he began as a “White Suiter.” Those are the people you see in the background every New Year’s Day, directing people, directing traffic or walking or scootering alongside floats.
Over more than two decades, Aghajanian went from provisional member to associate member to voting member to vice-chair to a chair. Then, finally, in 2015, Aghajanian was elected to the executive committee.
Once you’re elected to the executive committee, said Aghajanian, you’re on an eight-year track to becoming Tournament of Roses president.
And, it’s way back then, that the planning pedals for theme and grand marshal start turning, Aghajanian said.
“It’s an eight year ramp-up to be president,” he said. “When you become number eight, you know what your year is. Then, at about year four, you start to get really serious, you start thinking about themes and what you want to do.”
Years three and four consist of narrowing things down, Aghajanian said. You might run some ideas by colleagues, by your family members.
And, then, year one: “It’s an all-out chaos,” Aghajanian joked.
The president picks a handful of grand marshal candidates and then it’s up to the Tournament of Roses marketing staff to secure the “yes.”
The process, said Aghajanian, is a meticulous one. There are no grand marshal “backups,” he added. Once the Tournament secures a commitment, that’s it.
“In my memory, we’ve never had a grand marshal say ‘yes’ and then back out and say ‘no,’” he said.
The announcement of the Rose Parade theme happens on the third Sunday of January, coinciding with passing the baton to the next year’s Tournament president. Aghajanian chose the theme, “Celebrating a World of Music.”
The grand marshal announcement, however, can happen anytime after that.
The 2015 grand marshal, for example, was announced early — in May of 2014. It was Louis Zamperini, who died of pneumonia two months later. His family served on his behalf, making him the first posthumous grand marshal since Jackie Robinson in 1999.
But, said Aghajanain, the Tournament generally tries to announce grand marshal mid-October, around the time of the Rose Queen’s coronation.
The 2024 grand marshal announcement, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1, is pretty late, Aghajanian admitted.
“Sometimes anticipation is a wonderful thing,” Aghajanian said, “because it builds excitement.”
The Tournament marketing team, in addition to ensuring the grand marshal is available on Jan. 1, also has to work around a celebrity’s busy schedule to snag a date so the honoree can be present at the big reveal.
Does it help if the grand marshal has an affinity for the Rose Parade?
Absolutely, said Aghajanian.
“Their presence should amplify the celebratory nature of the event,” he added.
The theme selection and grand marshal choice are two of the biggest things the Tournament president does, Aghajanian added. And it’s something, he said, every president cherishes.
The press advisory for the 2024 grand marshal announcement gives a major clue: the honoree has won three of four awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar or Tony (EGOT).
In the past, grand marshals sometimes are chosen via a bit of serendipity, as when 2013 Tournament president Sally Bixby for the theme “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” happened to have a neighbor who knew grand marshal Dr. Jane Goodall personally.
Does Aghajanian have any sort of personal connection to his 2024 pick for grand marshal?
Well, that depends upon how you define personal connection, he said.
“The grand marshal loves music and we love music,” Aghajanian said, describing then how much music means to his family. His wife, a singer. One daughter, a flautist. Another daughter, involved in musical theater. Himself, a clarinetist and pianist.
“My family wanted to select someone who really loved music,” he said, “And, this person really loves music. In my mind, that’s a personal connection.”
And, after more than three decades of involvement in Tournament activities, the honor to choose both theme and grand marshal were rewarding for him and for his family.
“It’s an unforgettable process,” Aghajanian said.
Walking the halls of Tournament House, he said, looking at the photos of all the grand marshals over the years he thinks: “It’s just an indescribable feeling to be part of it all.”