Sunshine, big crowds greet Rose Parade

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-03 09:22

Spectators who claimed their spots for the Rose Parade hours before it began were rewarded on Thursday with spangled dancers paying tribute to Broadway, a lush garden wedding flanked by sari-clad models representing India's Bollywood film industry, a giant robot with a surprise under his hat and flying kisses from the Rose Queen, Chinese-American Courtney Chou Lee.

Rose Queen Courtney Chou Lee waves to spectators during the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, held as part of New Year celebrations. The 17-year-old is the second Chinese American to win the title in 103 years. [Xinhua]

Lee was selected the 91st Rose Queen at the end of a month-long process that began with more than 1,100 Pasadena-area young women who participated in the Tournament of Roses Royal Court tryouts.

Queen Courtney and the six Rose Princesses were selected based upon a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement and community involvement.

At the parade, a 15-meter-tall mechanical man named Asimo tipped his top hat on a float sponsored by Honda Motor Co. The crowd was wowed when fireworks and streamers shot out of his headgear - a nod to this year's theme, 'Hats Off to Entertainment'.

Previous page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next Page