Rose Parade 2024: Churches near parade route offer cheap parking, tickets and ‘more fun’

Far from the glitter of rooftop viewing parties and pricey, grandstand seats, a few churches in Pasadena along the  eastern end of the 2024 Rose Parade route are extending a helping hand to parade goers by offering lowered price parking and seats.

A handful of congregations sell below-rate parking spaces that would normally go unused within their own parking lots on Monday, Jan. 1 to last-minute visitors seeking a place to safely leave the SUV for the morning and catch a glimpse of the New Year’s spectacle.

One church sets up folding chairs at the curb as bargain-price seats that pack premiere sight lines.

That church is First United Methodist, at 500 E. Colorado Blvd., at Oakland Street, a few miles away from the parade’s start and the glut of TV cameras and Orange Grove Boulevard’s millionaire’s row. It had sold out of the 150 seats it places in front of its towering church building and spire by Wednesday, Dec. 27.

These ground-level seats sold quickly for just $25 a seat, a bargain when compared to Sharp Seating, the official seat seller for the Rose Parade, which is selling grandstand seats from Orange Grove Boulevard to east Colorado Boulevard for $85 to $120 each on Wednesday.

The seats in front of the church go mostly to congregants, families and friends, said the Rev. Dr. Amy Aitken, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Pasadena. Each year, these folks cheer as the floats down, the equestrian units clip-and-clop on by and the bands march step in uniform while playing a familiar tune.

Like Olympic judges, they also hold up placards that say “Perfect 10,” Aitken said.

“Our seats are more fun,” she said on Wednesday. “We interact with the people on the floats who always see that and they take pictures of us,” she said.

“Everybody gets a 10, of course,” she added.

The church rents parking for $25 per space for cars and $100 for trailers and motor homes, she explained. Some spaces remained unreserved as of late Wednesday. For more information, go to the church’s website at https://www.fumcpasadena.org/.

The money is used to help the church’s youth group, which will receive about $5,000 this year, Aitken said. Last year, the funds collected helped pay for the group’s ministry trip to Native American tribes located in Northern California, she added. This year, the youth leaders have not yet designated a specific use for the funds.

Across the street at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, seats on a portion of a grandstand in front of the church at East Colorado Boulevard and South Madison Avenue are sold by the church at a discount to members, clergy and military, said Debra, an administrator at the church who preferred not to give her last name.

Tickets that cost $75 are reduced to $60 by the church, she said. As of Wednesday, Dec. 27, the church still had 100 seats available, she said. To find seats in front of the church, go to tix.com and when asked to buy tickets, type in key words “Pasadena Presbyterian,” she explained.

As an added courtesy, the church allows its ticket-buyers use of the church restrooms. “Some times porta-potties are not as pristine,” Debra said.

Over on Green Street at South Oakland Avenue and El Dorado Avenue, the First Christian Science Church rents about 120 parking spaces to the parade-going public, said Bonnie Hedrick, office manager.

The parking lot, located behind the impressive church with white pillars, is managed by Juan Garcia of NJ Parking. The church charges between $15 and $20 per parking space, depending on various factors, he said.

“It is first come, first-served,” he said on Wednesday. He said the church may not fill its lot because more people are parking on the street. Parking restrictions are eased on side streets Jan. 1, he said.

“Our parking structure is in the back. If we were closer to Colorado Boulevard we would get more (customers),” he said. “Hopefully it will be a good year.”

Last year the church took in about $1,200 and $1,500 in revenue. This year, with Michigan playing Alabama, there could be more fans from both schools visiting Pasadena, he said. “Michigan is a big draw.”

The lot usually serves folks going to the parade, the Rose Bowl Game or both, he said. Those going to the game usually get a Lyft or Uber to the Parsons’ lot where shuttles run to and from the Rose Bowl. The lot accepts cash, Venmo and Zelle but not credit cards, said Garcia.

“The price is cheaper to park here than at the Rose Bowl, where they charge at least $50,” Garcia said.

Further south, at Rose City Church at the northeast corner of Allen Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard, the church has been stacking 60-70 cars in its lot every Jan. 1 for decades. The fundraiser can bring in $1,600 on average.

This year, the church doesn’t have the people-power to direct stacked parking. Instead, it will most likely park cars into individual stalls, allowing for up to 40 cars.

Last year, the church used the money to pay for its ministry to the homeless. Each fifth Sunday of the month, the church prepares meals for homeless shelter residents at Union Station, the long-time shelter and service center in Pasadena.

The fifth Sunday projects cost about $300 each for ingredients to make about 80 sandwiches with fruits and snacks for the kids. “Last year, the parking lot raised enough for almost 400 lunches,” said Lead Pastor Clare Ferguson Bravo on Wednesday. This year’s fundraiser dollars have not yet been designated, she said, but may go to support the church’s children’s programs.

Rose City Church’s lot opens up at 6 a.m. on Jan. 1. The entrance is off Del Mar. Mostly the volunteers see repeat customers, Bravo said.

People tell her: ” ‘ We park here every year. We love parking here,’ ” Bravo said.