Crowds begin to gather along Rose Parade route

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Trader Joe’s “Hats Off” float received the Showmanship Award for most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For the Los Angeles Times)

2/28

Earth Wind & Fire performs atop the Forum float.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For the Los Angeles Times)

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The Grand Marshal Award for most outstanding creative concept and float design went to Dole Packaged Foods.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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The city of Torrance’s float moves along Colorado Boulevard.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Spectators view a passing float.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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A performer atop a float.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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The Louisburg High School Marching Wildcat Band from Louisburg, Kan., performs.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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The Fantasy Award for most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination went to the Sierra Madre Rose Float Assn.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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An early crowd gathers for the start of the 2018 Rose Parade in Pasadena.

(Patrick Fallon / For The Times)

10/28

Mali Ross silly strings passing cyclists on Colorado Boulevard as people camp out in anticipation of getting the best seats in Pasadena.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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From left, Paul Houldridge, Kari Houldridge, Rachel Houldridge, Christena Bentley and Ben Houldridge play a card game after staking out their spot on the Rose Parade route.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

12/28

Minda Betts silly strings passing cars as people camp out on Colorado Boulevard.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

13/28

Troy Parkins, left, and J.R. Russell tend a fire while camping out overnight.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Kelly Nassiri works on a parrot for the Riverside Mission Inn float at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A group of volunteers work on the Singpoli float at Paradiso Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A group of volunteers work on the Donate Life float at Paradiso Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

17/28

Mary Jo and Don Kohlmiller, who have volunteering for last 25 years, decorating a frog for city of Torrance float at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Susi Farrell works on a star for the Cal Poly float at Paradiso Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A group of volunteers work on the Amazon float at Paradiso Parade Floats in Iwrindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Mary Yarbrough, left, Emily Novak and Katie Sun sort flowers for the Cal Poly float at Paradiso Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Jacque Giuffre puts the final touches on a cheetah featured on Dole’s “Sharing Nature’s Bounty” float at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale on Saturday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Margaret Richardson adds a stalk of blooms to the Miracle-Gro float at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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June O’Neill adds roses to the City of Torrance float at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Kathy Rimmer, a volunteer from Harrisburg, Pa., who has been coming to California for the last eight years to work on Rose Parade floats, helps finish an octopus on the Dole Packaged Foods float.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Jim Hynd, in red, vice president and floral director of Fiesta Parade, accompanies judges as they appraise floats for the 2018 Rose Parade.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Hundreds of volunteers put the finishing touches on Rose Parade floats at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Volunteers position individual blooms on a float at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A cartload of flowers is delivered to volunteers putting the finishing touches on Rose Parade floats at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

By City News Service

Dec. 31, 2017 9:15 AM PT

Parade-watchers will begin to gather on Colorado Boulevard Sunday in hopes of snagging prime viewing spots for the 129th Rose Parade, but people are being urged to heed the rules governing camping.

The parade route along Colorado Boulevard from Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard in Pasadena will be closed to all traffic beginning at 10 p.m., hours earlier than past years. Sierra Madre Boulevard also will be closed at that time from Colorado to Paloma Street.

Police will be on hand at key intersections along Colorado to allow north-south traffic to cross the boulevard. Crossover traffic will be cut off at 6 a.m. Monday.

Authorities have said there is no credible threat of violence targeting the parade, but law-enforcement officials are still stepping up their presence at the event and taking steps to ensure a safe event, including the earlier-than-usual street closures.

The road closures are expected to remain in effect until at least 2 p.m. Monday.

The parade begins at 8 a.m. Monday and will last about 2 1/2 hours.