Tournament of Roses Parade floats are flower-covered parade floats, used in the annual New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade held in Pasadena, California. They evolved from flower-decorated horse carriages with the present day requirement that "every inch of every float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds or bark".[1] Three civic and floral industry leaders judge the floats and award prizes in 24 categories.
Some communities and organizational sponsors, such as the City of Burbank, the City of Downey, City of South Pasadena, the City of Sierra Madre, the City of La Cañada Flintridge and the Cal Poly Universities, are referred to as "self-built floats" as they design, construct and decorate their floats solely on volunteer hours; but most are now built by professional float building companies.
The Rose Parade in Pasadena, California happens every year on New Year's Day. The first parade known as the “Battle of Flowers”[2] was initiated by naturalist and teacher of zoology, Charles Frederick Holder, who was the first to introduce the idea of the Tournament of Roses to the Valley Hunt Club.[3] The Valley Hunt Club was made up of wealthy Pasadena residents who migrated from the Eastern and Midwestern states. After moving to California, they became fascinated with the flowers that bloomed during winter. While the elite community began the Rose Parade as a celebration for the winter flowers, some involved in the real estate business used the parade as a way to attract land buyers in Pasadena.[4]
Initially, the Rose Parade had challenges with the number of people who attended the event. Since many residents attended church services, in 1893, members of the club came up with a solution, known as “Never on a Sunday” that continues today. Two years later, the Tournament of Roses Parade became one of the biggest events in the city and The Valley Hunt Club was not able to handle the event on their own. Members of the community created the Tournament of Roses Association to take over the annual parade.[3]
Almost ten years since the first Rose Parade, the tournament became a larger festival that gained popularity in many other cities, and eventually cross-country. New technologies were available and made communication and travel easier. In 1898, the first newspaper coverage of the Rose Parade traveled to the East Coast. After the first production of automobiles, the Tournament of Roses Association allowed motor vehicles to be used as floats, as long as they were in the back of parade where they would not disturb and scare the horses. As technology evolved, the tournament increased in popularity. In 1939, the Tournament of Roses Parade was aired locally on television station W6XAO Los Angeles. In 1951, the parade was shown nationwide on US television.[3]
Just like technology, the community also began to evolve. In 1916, the association allowed for Edith Wright, the first woman to pilot a float.[3] For almost a century, members of the Tournament of Roses Association were white males. In 1923, tournament officials decided to invite minorities and women into the committee.[5] Although given full voting rights, new members of the association could not serve the same number of years, serving two years instead of nine. Members in City Hall wanted to be an example of change within communities. They envisioned a more diverse and inclusive community. Advocates, volunteers and community leaders supported the decision.
Tournament of Roses Association carefully chooses participants who will represent their local community. Many floral structures that are accepted each year from corporations, and voluntary associations. During the early parades, floats were carried by horses and carriages that transported local dignitaries and resident elites.[4]
On June 25, the Tournament of Roses Association announced that Fiesta Parade Floats is no longer an approved float builder for the parade.
Over time, contestants began to incorporate unique and original designs. Today, floats are more elaborate and bigger in size. Although participants continue the tradition of decorating floats exclusively with flowers, the use of new technology such as computerized animation, and robots[3] has also been incorporated into design. Some materials also allowed in floats include, steel, plastic, wire mesh and plasticized spray coverings.[4] One of the primary and most enforced rule of the float is that structure must be completely covered in flowers, petals and other vegetable materials such as “seeds, leaves and stems” Some flowers used in floats include roses, orchids, chrysanthemums and different types of blossoms.
Float design and construction is a multi-million, year-long process that begins once the parade is over. It provides jobs to many people and demands for big amounts of flowers each year. Much of the labor however is done by students, volunteers, and members of organizations. An average of 80,000 hours of labor is put into the process of floats with about 900 volunteers each year. In 2013, the Tournament of Roses Association reported the roses events had an economic impact of approximately $300 million.
There are three different types of entries in the Rose Parade; floats, marching bands and equestrian units. There are two divisions of floats: large commercial, which include big companies such as American Honda Motor Company, and Kaiser Permanente; non-commercial entries include smaller companies or organizations such as Cal Poly Universities and participating cities. Large commercial floats attract more attention due to the amount of time and money invested. Small, non-commercial floats are usually self-built and often obtain money through donations and voluntary labor. Together, there are approximately 50 floats participating annually.
Since the early parades in history, the 5.5-mile-long annual festival has had a major impact within the community. Themes are chosen carefully, and avoid controversial topics such as politics, religion, sex. Most theme names are broad and simple for people to understand the theme without an explanation. Themes can be interpreted in many ways and designers can get creative and express meaningful, important messages within their floats. The collaboration between the volunteers provides a community bonding that is rewarding to the people involved in the design, construction and decoration process of the floats.
After the parade, floats are stripped to their chassis. Structural steel elements are reused where possible; organic materials and sculptural steel are recycled.
Shortly after each year's parade is over, and the next year's parade theme is announced, the parade sponsors and participating communities start to plan their floats for the following year. A "theme draft" meeting is held in mid-February where builders select their float theme. The Tournament assures that there are not too many similar floats.
Characters and other objects on the float are created as separate elements to add later, consisting of a framework of steel and chicken wire. The chassis has beams and steel rod welded to it to support a mesh cover. The float is then "cocooned" in the next process; it is sprayed with a polyvinyl material which acts as a base for inserting decoration. This base is painted with the colors of the flowers to be applied to the float.Every square inch of the exposed surface of a float entered in the parade must be covered with flowers or other natural materials. These other decorative applicants include bark, seed and leaves. Decorating with the non-perishable materials is performed first. In the days following Christmas, the live additions to the float are applied by volunteers or hired workers. Delicate flowers are placed in individual vials of water and set into the float one-by-one. The Tournament of Roses is the largest consumer of flowers in the world, and flowers arrive from all over the world.
Many floats, along with their drive train, include computer-controlled robotic mechanisms to animate the floats. Most float drivers can only see the ground below them. An observer communicates by intercom to the driver. Most observers are hidden within the float and have limited visibility. Each float has a Tournament Member (Float Liaison) assigned to it who shepherds the float from the float barn to the formation area and down the parade route. Most ride on motor scooters although some walk. The Float Liaisons communicate with the float's observer by hand signals. At the two corners other Tournament Members direct the floats in addition to the Float Liaisons.
It is estimated that it takes 60 volunteers working 10 hours a day for 10 days to decorate one float.[6] thumb|Float builders
After Christmas one can view many of the floats being decorated with flowery mantles, in the various "float barns" that dot the Pasadena area and communities to the east. The event is called "Decorating Places". This was not held in 2021 due to the pandemic.
Admission is charged for viewing the floats at the various sites. The flower float decorating places are the Rosemont Pavilion and the Rose Float Plaza North and South, in the City of Irwindale, California.
Approximately 120,000 visitors attended the three-day event in 2009.
While many distinct changes have taken place with the Festival's floats, including computer-aided movement and professional float building, the floats have kept true to the event's title and heritage, by using real, fresh flowers. The cost of flowers is included in the total cost of the float and paid for by the float sponsor.
In the old days, some of the flowers used on the floats were home grown in the former Fanny Morrison Horticultural Center, now the Kidspace Children's Museum in the Arroyo Seco Natural Park.[8]
The Showcase is a paid admission area where the floats are displayed after the parade, for close-up viewing. The floats are parked along Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards in Pasadena, near Pasadena High School and Victory Park, for three hours after the parade. On the day after the parade (occasionally two days when January 3 falls on Saturday or Sunday), the first two early morning hours (7–9) are reserved for seniors and the disabled, and the rest of day's worth of viewing for the general public. Due to the shortage of parking spaces in the area, a Park-N-Ride service is available at two Pasadena locations, at Pasadena City College and on January 2 and or January 3 only, at the Rose Bowl, when no Rose Bowl game is scheduled.
A fair-like environment with food and souvenir vending stands is created for public enjoyment. Handicap access and assistance is provided. Some of the animated floats are put on display with their animation running.
Three civic and floral industry leaders evaluate the floats and hand out prizes to the participating floats in 24 categories. The top prize for the parade is the Sweepstakes Trophy for the most beautiful entry. Recent year judges:
Judging occurs on the two days before the parade. In the first day's judging, the float is viewed "at rest", without any animation, sound, or riders. The float builder is allowed to explain the float to the judges before the judges begin their examination. In the second judging, the float is judged as it will be presented in the parade, with all animation, riders, outwalkers, and effects. Each judging session lasts five minutes.
Floats are judged in 14 categories, with varying weights; the most important categories are those relating to floral usage. Winners are announced at 6 AM on parade day.
Recent Sweepstakes Trophy winners for the "Most beautiful entry: encompassing float design, floral presentation and entertainment":
| Year | Sponsor | Float Title | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | San Diego Zoo | It Began With A Roar | Artistic Entertainment Services |
| 2023 | Donate Life America | Lifting Each Other Up | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2022 | UPS Store | Rise, Shine & Read | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2021 | – | No parade | – |
| 2020 | UPS Store | Stories Change Our World | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2019 | UPS Store | Books Keep Us On Our Toes | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2018 | Singpoli American BD | Rising Above | Paradiso Parade Floats |
| 2017 | Dole Packaged Foods | Spirit of Hawaii | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2016 | Singpoli Group | Marco Polo East Meets West | Paradiso Parade Floats |
| 2015 | Dole Packaged Foods | Rhythm of Hawai'i | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2014 | Dole Packaged Foods | Sunrise at the Oasis | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2013 | Dreaming of Paradise | Fiesta Parade Floats | |
| 2012 | Dole Food Company | Preserving Paradise | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2011 | Dole Food Company | Living Well in Paradise | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2010 | Rain Bird Corporation | Mountaintop Majesty | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2009 | Rain Bird Corporation | Entertaining Expedition | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2008 | Rain Bird Corporation | Preservation Celebration | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2007 | Jewels of Nature | Fiesta Parade Floats | |
| 2006 | FTD | Your Wish is My Command | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2005 | Rain Bird Corporation | Playful Pandamonium | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2004 | FTD | Love Songs | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2003 | Rain Bird Corporation | Water Wonderland | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2002 | Rain Bird Corporation | Animal Ambassadors | Fiesta Parade Floats |
| 2001 | Rain Bird Corporation | Enchanted Expedition | Fiesta Parade Floats |