UCLA announced hours before their Holiday Bowl game against NC State and the Hollywood Pantages has cancelled “Hamilton” performances through most of January, but the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade are still taking place — for now. Lauren Coronado reports for Today in LA on Dec. 29, 2021.
Spiking COVID-19 cases are causing a lot of event cancellations around SoCal, but one new year's tradition is still set to make a big comeback.
The bleachers along the Rose Parade route are expected to be packed with people on Saturday, with a lot of spectators -- required to mask up to attend -- excited for the parade and the return of the Rose Bowl.
Many of them are also disappointed by recent other cancellations.
"It's only Wednesday," said Gus Ruelas, a Rose Bowl Game ticketholder. "We're hoping everything continues, but you know, just yesterday UCLA cancelled their football game, so you just never know."
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Ruelas, a resident of Pasadena, is cautiously optimistic about cheering on his team from the stands at this weekend's game.
"Fingers crossed though," he said. "I’m hoping everything works out."
The Holiday Bowl at Petco Park was cancelled at the last minute on Tuesday, because of COVID-19 protocols within UCLA's program. North Carolina State was seen leaving San Diego on Wednesday morning, with fans frustrated.
"If they were going to cancel the game they could have done it much earlier," said NC State fan Gray Moonayhan.
Also Tuesday afternoon, the "Hamilton" production taking place at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre cancelleds its shows through Jan. 23, 2022, due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
The increase in COVID-19 cases prompted the Centers for Disease Control to cut its isolation guidelines down to five days for asymptomatic patients, hoping to get people back to work safely.
"By the time five days of isolation has occurred, you probably have about 85 to 90 percent of all of your transmission potential behind you," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, explained on the TODAY show Wednesday morning.
In the meantime, Ruelas is hoping for a brighter 2022.
"A lot of people were excited that things were getting back to normal, but hopefully its just a moment in time and we’ll be back soon," he said.
What Has COVID Cancelled Around SoCal?
- The Palm Springs International Film Festival scheduled to run from Jan. 7-17 was canceled.
- Performances of "Hamilton" at the Hollywood Pantages have been cancelled through Jan. 23, 2022.
- UCLA called off its Hollywood Bowl game against NC State just hours before the game was set to start, due to COVID-19 issues within the team.
- Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles canceled its invite-only event counting down the New Year to 2022 on New Years Eve, and it will now be a virtual celebration.
- All remaining performances of "A Christmas Carol" at the Ahmanson Theatre -- the first time the venue was able to welcome an in-person audience in years -- were canceled through Jan. 1 due to the surge.
- UC campuses and USC opted to start the semester remotely.
