As one of the most anticipated events of each new year, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade — and the accompanying sights, sounds and pageantry — have ushered in nearly every January for the last 134 years.
Joining the 5.5-mile procession down Colorado Boulevard this Jan. 2 will be 2023 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal Gabby Giffords, a former U.S. congresswoman, mass shooting survivor and anti-gun violence advocate.
Assuming the honorary position that presides over both the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl Game, Giffords joins the ranks of Frank Sinatra, Mickey Mouse, Vin Scully, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and others who have previously served in the role.
• Complete Rose Parade coverage
But how, exactly, is the grand marshal for the Rose Parade selected? That job, along with the selection of the parade theme, falls under the purview of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association president. Amy Wainscott, this year’s president, has been a volunteer member since 1992 and is the fourth female to be named to the position.
Without the involvement of committees or executive board review, Wainscott alone, with the help of her husband Tim, tossed around ideas for this year’s theme. She felt strongly about incorporating an aspect of the parade that volunteers would identify with — and that’s when the light bulb went on for her.
“When you say ‘turning the corner’ to a Tournament of Roses member, it instantly transports them to that moment on Orange Grove and Colorado Boulevard,” Wainscott said. “And we were lucky enough that it really resonated with so many people that the whole idea is a moment. It’s New Year’s Day. It’s a fresh start.”
Wainscott’s next task was to choose a grand marshal, and in alignment with the theme of “Turning the Corner,” she and her husband couldn’t think of anyone who embodies that idea more than Giffords.
“She epitomizes turning the corner with her significance in our world, what she means to people, her tenacity and her grit,” said Wainscott of Giffords.
With an estimated live audience of 700,000 spectators last January, along with more than 70 million viewers across the nation and around the world, the parade no doubt has potential as a messaging moment.
Last year’s grand marshal selection of actor and children’s reading advocate LeVar Burton came at a time when many children were experiencing learning loss due to pandemic-related school closures. The 2020 selections of Laurie Hernandez, Rita Moreno and Gina Torres put the spotlight on diversity and women of color.
Although gun violence remains a hot-button issue, Wainscott assures that Giffords’ selection was not with that topic in mind.
“While she is widely recognized for her role as an anti-gun violence advocate, she wasn’t selected for that advocacy,” Wainscott said. “She was chosen because of the way she turned the corner, her determination to overcome a tragedy, her choice to turn that tragedy into purpose and her lifelong commitment to service.”
David Eads, in his sixth year as the Tournament of Roses Association executive director and CEO, says that the theme and grand marshal selections are indeed personal decisions on the part of the current president. While he is in support of Wainscott’s selections, Eads and his staff had no part in their creation.
Eads also says that recent changes in society, including the evolution of social media, have made the grand marshal appointment less about PR and more about the synergy between the current president’s personal passions and the theme they select.
Burton’s selection and the 2022 parade theme of “Dream, Believe, Achieve” were made by past president Robert Miller, a 40-year educator. Laura Farber made history as the first Latina to serve as the Tournament of Roses president when she announced the 2020 theme, “The Power of Hope,” and the selections of Hernandez, Moreno and Torres.
“It’s not that we’re into making social statements.” Eads said. “That’s not what we do, and that’s not what our goal is here at all. Our goal is to bring that hope and joy of New Year’s to the world and to have a really positive impact on the community that we serve.”
Wainscott is still admittedly overwhelmed by Giffords’ acceptance of her invitation, as the strength, courage and bravery she displays are inspirational to so many. She is looking forward to celebrating Giffords and the arrival of the new year alongside the world.
“She is incredibly excited to be a part of our family, and that’s truly what it is,” Wainscott said. “Once they are part of this incredible celebration of New Year’s, they’re always part of the family. And I’m absolutely thrilled that Gabby is a part of our family now.”
“I love the theme of ‘turning the corner’ – the idea that we all can make a conscious decision to go in a different direction, towards something better,” said former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, after being named the 2023 Rose Parade grand marshal.(Photo by Hans Gutknecht, SCNG)
About Gabby Giffords
Gabby Giffords, this year’s Tournament of Roses grand marshal, has not only lived a life dedicated to public service, it also has been one marked by resilience and strength.
After getting her political start in Arizona’s legislature in 2001, Giffords headed to Washington D.C. five years later to represent the Grand Canyon State’s 8th district.
In January 2011, during a constituent event in front of a Tucson grocery store, Giffords was shot in the head by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12. Stepping down from Congress, she focused on her recovery, including relearning how to speak and walk. It was a time of uncertainty, but one where she very fittingly “turned the corner” and emerged as an inspiration.
While Giffords could not have predicted the tragedy of 12 years ago and her ensuing journey, her experiences allowed her to turn her pain into purpose. A decade ago, after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., she founded the gun violence prevention organization known as Giffords (giffords.org).
Honored to have been selected as grand marshal, Giffords says she’s looking forward to spending time with her family in Pasadena and seeing the many parade floats, marching bands and equestrian units.
“My hope is that my journey inspires others to have the courage to power through their own setbacks and challenges, and to engage meaningfully with their communities,” Giffords said. “I’m so grateful for every opportunity I have to connect with others, and to have this opportunity on the scale of the Tournament of Roses is really remarkable.”
More Rose Parade
Rose Parade survival guide: What you need to know before you go
Rose Parade 2023: The history of how the Tournament of Roses got its start
Why the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl are on Jan. 2 in 2023
How to see the Rose Parade floats in person on Jan. 2-3
More Rose Parade coverage