by Dot Cannon
New Year’s Day–and the 2020 Rose Parade®–is coming ever closer.
And on Sunday, December 29th, visitors had the opportunity to preview some of what we’ll see on New Year’s Day.
Phoenix Decorating Company’s Rosemont location, in Pasadena, hosts “Decorating Places” from December 29th through 1 pm on New Year’s Eve.
Guests can check out the float decorating process, just before the floats go to the parade route. They also get to see the vehicles which will transport parade VIPs.
The first thing we saw, upon entering, was a reminder of the importance of football.
Volunteers were gluing on dried materials.
Nearby was the China Airlines float, “Dreams of Flying, Wings of Hope”.
Means of transport
Along the back wall were the parade vehicles. Staffers were dressing them up for their “star turn” carrying parade dignitaries.
This 1911 Rolls-Royce “Silver Ghost” will be 2020 Tournament of Roses® President Laura Farber’s ride for the morning.
Meanwhile, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek will be traveling in this stagecoach.
As mentioned in a previous post, the 2020 Rose Parade® has three Grand Marshals–each of whom will have her own vehicle.
And the mid-parade performers, from the FROZEN North American Tour company, will be riding in this late-1800’s sleigh, pulled by a team of Percherons!
The floats
The 2020 Rose Parade® will include 42 floats, according to their online media guide. We saw quite a few of those in their final “deco” stage on Sunday.
What we’ll never be able to explain, is how, when every inch of every float surface MUST be covered with organic materials, everything gets done on time.
That’s considering that the floats need to be in place, for the parade, on New Year’s Eve. In addition, the work that makes them so spectacular is highly detailed–bean by bean and leaf by leaf. The work must be precise, and well-crafted.
Somehow, the magic that makes it happen always seems to be in full force during “Deco Week”. Here are the other floats we saw at Rosemont:
This is the “Blue Diamond Growers” float, created by Artistic Entertainment Services.
Look at those bees!
Further along was Amazon Studios’ “Troop Zero” float.
That’s a real bus. and it’s going to be covered in eucalyptus, black onion seed and poppy seed, according to the Tournament of Roses®’ media guide.
The American Honda float, entitled “Our Hope for the Future”, will be leading the parade.
It features six children pursuing their dreams–including a future doctor and a future astronaut!
As in the past, full tables of volunteers were busily at work.
Supporting California growers
Dry materials go on first, explained California Cut Flower Commission CEO Dave Pruitt (far left). The roses in their vials are last, he explained, due to their shorter shelf life.
We had the pleasure of talking with Dave, as well as CCFC Event Coordinator Anna Kalins (center), and CCFC Interim CEO/Ambassador Dan Vordale (right). Dan is also President of Ocean View Flowers, in Lompoc.
Dan, Dave and Anna were onsite with the Cal Poly Universities students, who were decorating their schools’ seventy-second float entry. Cal Poly Universities has the only student-built float in the Rose Parade®.
In addition to having donated flowers for the Cal Poly float, themed “Aquatic Aspirations”, Anna, Dave and Dan would be giving a “California grown” certification to parade participants using at least 85 percent California-grown flowers.
And we spoke with Cal Poly student Iliana Sansur about her experience working on the float!
Meanwhile, seeds were being glued, foliage was drying, and the clock was ticking–closer to the 131st Rose Parade®.
“Decorating Places” is open Tuesday, December 31, from 11 am to 1 pm, at Phoenix Decorating Company’s Rosemont Pavilion, in Pasadena. Tickets are available by advance purchase only.
The 2020 Rose Parade happens Wednesday morning, January 1, at 8:00 am. Here’s the link for information.