The 125th annual Rose Parade kicked off in Pasadena under clear, sunny skies Wednesday morning as spectators packed the streets for one of the world's largest New Year's Day celebrations.
Longtime Dodgers announcer Vin Scully served as Grand Marshal, setting the parade in motion.
This year's parade featured its first gay wedding ceremony.
At the tail end of its two-hour broadcast, KTLA5 showed Danny LeClair and Aubrey Loots kiss and wave after being wed atop a float entered by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
RELATED: Rose Parade's gay wedding draws cheers, but also complaints
Notably, several networks appeared to cut away or quickly move on from the AHF float.
"We are very pleased with coverage on channel 5, KTLA. They mentioned the wedding and showed the kiss," said Ged Kenslea, AHF's communications director.
"We are disappointed that NBC did not show the wedding, though we realize it is their right," Kenslea said. "But it is disingenuous for NBC to cover it as a news story and not include it in their parade coverage"
LeClair and Loots sparked protests and debate after they announced their plans to wed atop a parade float while the world looked on.
The two men told KPCC last month they had intended to marry after a Supreme Court decision in June allowed same-sex marriages to resume in California, but they sped up their plans when they realized how vast a platform they would have in the Rose Parade.
At least two other weddings have been performed at a Rose Parade, including one last year. But Loots and LeClair's marked the first such ceremony for a gay couple.
While parade organizers did not provide an interview or comment directly on the wedding, they did issue the following statement:
AHF's float, "Love Is The Best Protection," won an award for best presentation of color and color harmony through floral use."We’re very proud of the award we were honored with," Kenslea said.
The winning floats
Other winning floats from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses were announced Wednesday morning.
The Past Presidents' Award for most creative design and use of floral and non-floral materials went to Western Asset Management Co. for its "So close, yet Safari away" by Phoenix Decorating.
The City of Glendale was also honored for best depiction of life in California for "Let's Be Neighbors," also built by Phoenix Decorating. That float depicted "Meatball," the trash-rummaging California black bear who made headlines after repeatedly invading the foothill neighborhoods around Glendale.
Check out the complete list of winners below.
Trouble before and during parade leads to arrests
Pasadena police made 17 arrests in the hours leading up to the Rose Parade, fewer than the year before.
Most were for public intoxication.
But police lieutenant Terysa Rojas said officers also made 19 arrests during the parade when protestors from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, tried to stop the SeaWorld Float.
"The people arrested were trying to stand in front of the float to hinder it's progress, which they were not successful at. As soon as they jumped up either Pasadena PD or L.A. Sheriff's whisked them away with no problem," Rojas said.
PETA said one of the 19 arrested was 12-year-old Rose McCoy, a New York native who also jumped the barricade to protest a similar float at the Macy's Parade last year.
The animal rights organization said SeaWorld abuses its orca whales.
| AWARD | DESCRIPTION | PARTICIPANT | THEME | BUILDER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAST PRESIDENTS' | Most Creative Design & Use of Both Floral & Non-Floral Materials | Western Asset Management Co | So close, yet Safari away | Phoenix Decorating |
| GOVERNOR'S | Best Depiction of Life In California | City of Glendale | Let's Be Neighbors | Phoenix Decorating |
| SWEEPSTAKES | Most Beautiful Entry in Parade With Outstanding Floral Presentation & Design | Dole Packaged Foods | Sunrise at the Oasis | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| THEME | Excellence In Presenting Parade Theme | Donate Life | Light Up the World | Phoenix Decorating |
| MAYOR'S | Most Outstanding City Entry - National or International | Sierra Madre Rose Float Association | Catching The Big One | Self Built |
| EXTRAORDINAIRE | Most Spectacular Float (Including Floats That Do Not Retract To 55') | Singpoli Group | Connecting Cultures, Delivering Dreams | Paradiso Parade Floats |
| BOB HOPE HUMOR | Most Comical & Amusing Entry | La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association | Dog Gone! | Self Built |
| JUDGES' SPECIAL | Most Spectacular In Showmanship & Dramatic Impact | Stella Rosa Wines | Stellabrate Good Times | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| QUEEN'S | Most Effective Use And Display of Roses In Concept, Design & Presentation | Miracle Gro | Grow Something Greater | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| LATHROP K. LEISHMAN | Most Beautiful Non-Commercial Float | Kaiser Permanente | First Steps to Total Health | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| CROWN CITY INNOVATION | Best Use of Imagination & Innovation To Advance The Art Of Float Design | Cal Poly Universities | Bedtime Buccaneers | Self Built |
| DIRECTORS' | Outstanding Artistic Merit In Design & Floral Presentation | Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia | Wonderful Indonesia | Artistic Entertainment Services |
| TOURNAMENT VOLUNTEERS' | Best Floral Design of Parade Theme For Floats Under 35' | Shriners Hospitals for Children | Love to the rescue. | Phoenix Decorating |
| FOUNDERS' | Most Beautiful Float Built & Decorated By Volunteers From A Community or Organization | Downey Rose Float Association | The Glass Slipper | Self Built |
| FANTASY | Most Outstanding Display of Fantasy & Imagination | Burbank Tournament of Roses Association | Lights! Camera! Action! | Self Built |
| INTERNATIONAL | Most Beautiful Entry - Outside of 50 United States & D.C. | China Airlines Ltd. | Taiwan Dreams Rising | Artistic Entertainment Services |
| GRAND MARSHAL'S | Excellence In Creative Concept & Design | Public Storage | Adventures in Space | Paradiso Parade Floats |
| PRESIDENT'S | Most Effective Floral Use & Presentation | SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment | Sea of Surprises | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| ANIMATION | Best Animation & Motion | Underground Service Alert 811 | Protecting Your Dream, Right In Your Own Backyard | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| ISABELLA COLEMAN | Best Presentation of Color & Color Harmony Through Floral Use | AIDS Healthcare Foundation | Love Is The Best Protection | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| PRINCESS' | Most Beautiful Float 35' And Under | Lutheran Layman's League | Jesus Welcomes All | Phoenix Decorating |
| CRAFTSMAN | Exceptional Achievement In Showmanship & Dramatic Impact For Floats > 55' Only | The Lucy Pet Foundation, Inc. | Lucy's Performing Rescue Dogs | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| TOURNAMENT SPECIAL | Exceptional Merit In Multiple Classifications (Incl. Floats That Do Not Retract To 55') | Lion's Club International | Lions Built Matteo's Dream | Phoenix Decorating |
| NATIONAL | Best Depiction of Life In U.S.A. - Past, Present Or Future | Wingtip to Wingtip Association | Our Eyes Are On The Stars | Fiesta Parade Floats |
This story has been updated.