Star Wars characters march in Rose Parade tribute

A dragon atop a castle breathed fire, 200 Star Wars characters menacingly marched and the Oakridge Boys country band led hundreds of thousands in song at the 118th Rose Parade.

The festivities began with a majestic flyover of an Air Force B-2 stealth bomber and two other fighter jets that brought cheers from people packed in bleachers and on streets at the annual New Year's Day parade. Actress-singer Kristin Chenoweth and a dancing troupe rang in the new year with a tribute to this year's parade theme, "Our Good Nature."

The three-piece "Star Wars Spectacular," an entry that celebrated the 1977 release of "Star Wars," the first film in the sci-fi saga, was a huge draw for many.

The parade's Grand Marshal was "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, who rode in a 1911 Pope-Hartford, Model Y car.