Floats, Flowers, Music and Color at the 2016 Rose Parade

The 127th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade kicked off with a bang Friday, as thousands of people gathered to witness the Southern California showcase in Pasadena.

More than 700,000 people braved the chilly temperatures along Colorado Boulevard to catch the floats, flowers, music and color.

The parade, themed "Know Your Adventure,'' featured 44 floats, 19 equestrian groups and 19 marching bands. Emmy- and Grammy-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns was the grand marshal and Flintridge Preparatory School senior Erika Karen Winter was the 2016 Rose Queen.

The Sweepstakes Award for most beautiful entry went to the Singpoli Group for "Marco Polo East Meets West,'' which displayed a colorful fire-breathing dragon.

A Disney creation - with "Star Wars" stormtroopers on one end and characters from "Frozen" on the other - won the Extraordinaire Trophy for most spectacular float

"Every Second Is An Adventure," a float representing the NBA team Los Angeles Lakers, received the Judge's Special Award for most spectacular showmanship.The float displayed fireworks, 16 stars representing the team's championships and the Lakers' retired jerseys.

NBA's all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played for the Lakers from 1975-89, and Paula Abdul, who was a member and choreographer of the Laker Girls dance team, rode on the float.

Authorities planned extra security, including additional patrols and high-tech surveillance. Officials said there were no credible threats to the event but were implementing more security around the event as a precaution.

The floats can be viewed along Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards from 1-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with last entry at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchsed online or in person.

For more ticket information and a complete list of winners, visit the Tournament of Roses website.