When we started writing this article, there were just eight days, 13 hours and 13 minutes left until the Rose Parade, an annual New Year celebration held in Pasadena, Calif.
That means there’s still time to get involved, as a float decorator.
“Experience the magic of the floats before they make their debut in the Rose Parade,” said the Pasadena Tournament of Roses website. “During the final stages of preparation a variety of seeds, bark, fruits and vegetables, grasses and of course, flowers are being applied to the floats by experienced professionals as well as hard working volunteers.”
KNX Radio’s Nataly Tavidian met up with some of the people working on floats for the parade this weekend, and you can get a sneak peek at some of the upcoming float designs here:
While these may already look impressive, “community members and visitors are needed each year to decorate floats for the Rose Parade,” said the website. It added that builders are always happy to have help.
Contact the float builders listed below for volunteer information:
Commercial float builders:
ARTISTIC ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES
700 Seco St., Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 334-9388 | aescreative.com
FIESTA PARADE FLOATS
16016 Avenida Padilla, Irwindale, CA 91702
Parking, drop-off and pick up-point is located at 1111 W.
3rd Street, Azusa, CA
(626) 788-1828 | floatdecorators.com
PHOENIX DECORATING COMPANY
Rose Float Plaza South, 5400 Irwindale Ave., Irwindale, CA 91706
(626) 793-3174 | phoenixdeco.com
Self-built float organizations:
BURBANK TOURNAMENT OF ROSES
123 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 840-0060 | burbankrosefloat.com
CAL POLY UNIVERSITIES
rosefloat.org
DOWNEY ROSE FLOAT ASSOCIATION
13030 Erickson Dr., Downey, CA 90241
downeyrose.org
LA CANADA-FLINTRIDGE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES ASSOCIATION
4524 Hampton Rd., La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011 (Foothill Blvd. & Hampton Rd.)
(818) 790-3818 | lcftra.org
SIERRA MADRE ROSE FLOAT ASSOCIATION
587 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024 (behind the tennis court at Sierra Vista Park)
(626) 355-7005 | sierramadrerosefloat.org
SOUTH PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES ASSOCIATION
435 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Behind the War Memorial Building | contact@sptor.org | sptor.org
Most float builders have minimum age requirements, and all volunteer decorators will be required to sign a waiver. Since float decorating can be messy, the tournament recommends volunteers wear clothes that can get a bit dirty.
“Wear old clothes and comfortable close-toed shoes, and bring a jacket as it can get cool in the evenings,” said the organization.