PASADENA >> After patrolling the Rose Parade for decades as members of the Pasadena Police Department, Keith and Shelley Jones joked that they’d had their fill of the petals and pageantry and would never return.

But on Wednesday morning, there they were hanging out in the grandstands along Colorado Boulevard, just as giddy about the floats and marching bands as their two young grandchildren at their sides.

“It’s a New Year’s tradition for us. ... We all love it all,” said Shelley Jones, 72.

The Joneses, of La Verne, bring their grandchildren, ages 8 and 10, to the parade each year while their daughter and son-in-law who are a Pasadena police detective and lieutenant, respectively provide security for the event.

And while the 136th Rose Parade was a joyous occasion for the family, they were thinking of New Orleans, where, just hours earlier, a driver plowed into a crowd along Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens in a suspected terrorist attack.

“It’s a tragedy,” said Keith Jones, 70. “It’s very much a shame. You feel for the families. Security has always been a concern, it’s always front of mind, but it’s definitely ramped up since 9/11.”

Nevertheless, Jones, who sported a pair of shorts and a puffy jacket, said he felt safe at the Rose Parade because of the major law enforcement presence.

Security was top of mind for Pasadena and Tournament of Roses officials on Wednesday as hundreds of thousands of people lined the 5.5-mile route beneath picture-perfect blue skies, celebrating this year’s parade theme of “Best Day Ever.”

Tournament of Roses officials, who started the festivities with a moment of silence, said in a statement that they “extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans following this morning’s tragic events.”

“We stand in solidarity with the entire state during this difficult time.”

Lisa Derderian, a spokeswoman for the city of Pasadena, told The Times on Wednesday that the Rose Parade “is a top-rated federal event, and it has been for many years, so we have federal, state, county and city resources that have been in Pasadena for several days.”

More than 1,000 law enforcement officers were in the city for the parade and Rose Bowl game, Derderian said. For the last few years, she added, the parade route has been lined with “very robust vehicle barriers.”

During last year’s Rose Parade, a woman rammed her vehicle into one of the barricades along Colorado Boulevard, Derderian said.

“She could have easily injured or killed people,” Derderian said. “She had some past history of mental illness, was told not to cross a line, didn’t listen, revved her engine, and continued driving. The barriers stopped her.”

For the fourth consecutive year, the state of Louisiana had a float in the Rose Parade. This year’s float, dubbed “Louisiana Saturday Night,” featured a giant green alligator decorated with lime slices, broccoli florets, green bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, corn husks and cactus petals. On the gator’s back were a Cajun dance hall and pots of boiled seafood.

Mark Garcia, a retired firefighter from Contra Costa County who camped overnight along Colorado Boulevard, said that while he was saddened by the news in New Orleans, he had “never felt safer” than he did along the Rose Parade route Wednesday morning.

“There’s been two or three police patrolling this block all night long,” said Garcia, 58, adding that he was comforted by the “huge police presence.”

Garcia, who lives in Danville, was attending the parade for the second time. He staked out his camping spot at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, became friends with other overnighters and was in high spirits despite only getting three hours of sleep on his cot while his family snoozed in a van parked nearby.

“It’s just a great spectacle bringing together so many people. Everyone’s in a great mood,” Garcia said.

A few blocks away, Angel Gutierrez, of Pasadena, huddled with his family around a makeshift bonfire before the parade began.

Gutierrez also claimed his camping spot early Tuesday morning, saying he preferred to camp for a full day and night even with chilly overnight weather rather than shelling out up to $125 apiece for grandstand seats that can fill up weeks in advance.

“I don’t want to say it, but the stands are for boring people,” Gutierrez said with a laugh. “Here, you get the whole experience, getting to talk to different people.”

Gutierrez has been coming to the parade for about two decades and his 10-year-old son, Rony Plascencia, has been attending since he was an infant.

“This is about starting off the year good,” Rony said.

He added: “My New Year’s resolution is for homeless people to get a home.”

Distributed by Tribune News Service