Look! Over 200 Pictures: 2023 Rose Parade in Jackson, Michigan
In 2022, the Jackson County Rose Festival board, under the leadership of Jim Francis, not only brought the Jackson, Michigan Rose Parade back but it returned to downtown. This year there were more entries, and more Jackson residents lining the streets of Michigan Avenue.
Related: 40 Plus Things to Do in Downtown Jackson
The History of the Rose Parade
Jackson, Michigan named the rose its' official flower in 1931, thus making Jackson "Rose City". In 1958, the Jackson County Rose Festival was held for the first time, which included the inaugural Rose Parade. The Rose Pageant followed in 1960 until COVID-19 shut down the event for 2 straight years.
Knowing the community needed an event like the Rose Parade, the festival board set forth to bring the event back to Jackson and back to one of its original routes. For many years the parade ran from downtown to Ella Sharp Park on Fourth Street. Moving the floats, firetrucks, bands, and motorcycles back into a revitalized downtown brought renewed interest in the event.
2023 Jackson County, Michigan Rose Parade
This year's Grand Marshall was American Idol Contestant, and Grass Lake native, Braydon Lape. The theme for this year's Rose Parade was Home Sweet Home!