Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns was announced Tuesday morning as the 2016 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal.
“Ken Burns is a legendary figure and a great fit for this year’s Rose Parade theme, ‘Find Your Adventure,’” Tournament of Roses President Mike Matthiessen said during the announcement in Pasadena. “We’re so honored to have someone like Ken, who has devoted his life to telling the story of America, lead the Rose Parade – America’s New Year’s Celebration– that provides hope and joy to millions of people around the world.”
The Brooklyn-born documentarian has worked for nearly 40 years, and has won 14 Emmys and two Grammy, and been nominated for two Oscar awards.
The “Find Your Adventure” theme was the result of a partnership between the Tournament of Roses and U.S. National Park Service, which will celebrate its centennial next year.
Burns’ 2009 film “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” which was filmed over a six-year period in some of the county’s most “spectacular” parks, made him the ideal grand marshal candidate, a news release announcing his selection stated.
The filmmaker was unable to attend Tuesday’s announcement, but through a video announcement shared his excitement to attend the parade for his first time.
“As Tournament of Roses President Matthiessen said when he invited me to be grand marshal, ‘Find Your Adventure’ is not only a celebration of accomplishment, discovery and travel, it is also a call to action. So go out and find your park,” Burns said.
The announcement came nearly three weeks after Erika Karen Winter, a 17-year-old senior at Flintridge Preparatory School, was selected to be the Rose Queen.