Tournament of Roses Parade - Pasadena New Year's Event

The Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1 in Pasadena draws approximately 700,000 spectators to Colorado Boulevard annually and precedes the Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl Stadium. The parade began in 1890 and mandates that every float surface be covered in flowers, seeds, or other plant material. Construction crews work through the night of December 31 to apply fresh petals before the morning procession.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans typically attracts more than one million visitors during the two weeks preceding Ash Wednesday. The Krewe of Rex has paraded since 1872 and introduced the official Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold in 1892. The Krewe of Zulu, founded in 1909, distributes hand-painted coconuts to crowds along the route. Parades roll through the French Quarter, along Canal Street, and through the Garden District on schedules published by the city each year.

South by Southwest occupies Austin for ten days in March, combining music, film, and technology conferences. The 2019 event registered 73,716 badgeholders. Music programming began in 1987 with 700 registrants. The festival books more than 2,000 performing acts across venues ranging from 100-capacity rooms to outdoor stages in Zilker Park. Film screenings occur at the Paramount Theatre, the Statesman, and the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.

The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville runs on the first Saturday in May and drew 156,710 attendees in 2019. The race covers one and one-quarter miles and has run continuously since 1875 except for war years. Mint juleps made with bourbon, mint, sugar, and crushed ice are served in commemorative glasses that change design annually. The infield opens at 8:00 a.m. on race day with general admission tickets priced substantially lower than grandstand seating.

Memorial Day weekend opens the summer season with major attendance spikes at national parks and beach destinations. Great Smoky Mountains National Park recorded 12.5 million visits in 2019, making it the most visited national park. Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful geyser erupts approximately every 90 minutes with intervals ranging from 60 to 110 minutes. Grand Canyon National Park South Rim remains open year-round while North Rim operates from mid-May through mid-October due to snow.

Independence Day on July 4 generates city-level celebrations with fireworks displays. Macy's Fourth of July fireworks in New York City launch more than 75,000 shells and effects from barges on the East River. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade draws approximately 500,000 attendees. Washington, D.C. fireworks launch from the National Mall reflecting pool with the Washington Monument as backdrop. The National Park Service issues permits for public viewing areas that fill by early afternoon.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October spans nine days and launches more than 500 hot air balloons during morning mass ascensions. The event began in 1972 with 13 balloons. Launch site occupies 78 acres at Balloon Fiesta Park with ascensions beginning shortly after 6:00 a.m. when wind conditions permit. Special shapes rodeo on designated days features balloons constructed as recognizable objects including animals, buildings, and product replicas. Evening balloon glows illuminate grounded envelopes after sunset.

Thanksgiving Day Parade presented by Macy's in New York City has marched annually since 1924. The 2019 parade deployed 16 giant character balloons requiring 80 to 100 handlers each. The route runs 2.5 miles from Central Park West and 77th Street to Macy's Herald Square. Handlers train at balloon camp sessions and must weigh at least 120 pounds to qualify. Wind speed regulations grounded balloons in 1971 and imposed altitude restrictions after incidents in the 1990s. Current rules mandate grounding if sustained winds exceed 23 miles per hour or gusts exceed 34 miles per hour.

New Year's Eve in Times Square draws approximately one million attendees who stand in security pens for hours before the ball drop at midnight. The Waterford Crystal ball measures 12 feet in diameter, weighs 11,875 pounds, and descends 70 feet down a flagpole on One Times Square beginning at 11:59 p.m. The Times Square Alliance coordinates with NYPD to close street access by mid-afternoon. No public restrooms are available within the security zone. Confetti released at midnight totals approximately 3,000 pounds and includes wishes written by visitors throughout the year.

Art Basel Miami Beach in December attracts more than 80,000 collectors, artists, and dealers to the Miami Beach Convention Center. The fair began in 1970 in Basel and expanded to Miami Beach in 2002. Approximately 270 galleries from 36 countries exhibit during the four-day event. Satellite fairs including Design Miami and NADA Miami Beach run concurrently. Hotel rates in South Beach increase by 200 to 400 percent during the fair week.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. celebrates the 1912 gift of 3,020 cherry trees from Tokyo. Peak bloom occurs when 70 percent of Yoshino cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin open and typically lasts four to seven days. The National Park Service issues bloom predictions in late February based on temperature data. The festival runs for four weeks from late March through mid-April regardless of actual bloom timing. The parade along Constitution Avenue features floats, marching bands, and performers and draws approximately 100,000 spectators.

Burning Man occupies Black Rock Desert in Nevada for one week ending on Labor Day. The temporary city named Black Rock City housed 78,850 participants in 2019 within a layout measuring 1.5 miles in diameter. Participants must bring all supplies including water, food, and shelter and must remove all materials they bring. A wooden effigy standing approximately 40 feet tall burns on Saturday night. Tickets sell through a lottery system and cost between 425 and 1,400 dollars depending on vehicle type and sale period. The Bureau of Land Management issues a permit specifying population cap and environmental restoration requirements.