Building a Rose Parade® float can be highly addictive.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Just ask La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Vice President of Float Development Pam Wiedenbeck.

And the creative process involves science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Nonprofit La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses, or LCFTRA, is one of six noncommercial float builders who enter a float in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses® Parade, every New Year’s Day. Participating since 1978, they work year-round on their entries. Currently, they’re in the design-approval stage, from Tournament of Roses®, for their 2024 float.

“Labor of love” barely describes LCFTRA’s work.

A passionate community

A community of volunteers does the welding, design, foaming (adding a foam base where flowers will be attached), painting and whatever else needs to be done.

Oh–and every inch of a Rose Parade® float must be covered in organic material. Pre-parade, LCFTRA’s staff have five days to complete the decorating process.

LCFTRA frequently win awards for their float entries–including their win this past New Year’s Day. Their float, “Secondhand Shenanigans” won the Mayor’s Trophy for “Most Outstanding Float from Participating City”.

“Secondhand Shenanigans” also marked a milestone for LCFTRA.

While storytelling is at the core of float entries, Pam implemented a new creative project: a comic-style book, drawn by 13-year-old Madeline Weatherwax, which tells the story behind what’s happening on “Secondhand Shenanigans”! (The book is currently for sale on Amazon and all proceeds go to nonprofit LCFTRA.)

Pam talked about the creative process for both the float and the book, offered a look at what’s happening with LCFTRA’s 2024 float entry, and shared ways you can get involved, if you’re in the Southern California area!

(La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association welcomes volunteers! Find out more on their website. In addition, Pam says, Pasadena Tournament of Roses®is currently recruiting volunteers. Here’s where to find out more about becoming a “White Suiter”.)

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• How Pam’s background first got her “hooked” on float building;

• A quick look ahead at what LCFTRA plans to create for the 2024 Rose Parade®;

• The different S.T.E.A.M. aspects of creating a Rose Parade® float;

• The science of welding;

• What “cold welds” are (you don’t want these!);

• Technology, as it relates to float animation;

• How LCFTRA chooses their music for the floats;

• What a float can weigh!;

• Art considerations;

• Logistics of the decorating process;

• Where math is involved, in float building;

• The troubleshooting involved when “life happens”;

• Considerations involved in project management for Rose Parade® floats;

• A funny coincidence (or not!) between weather and parade Grand Marshal choices;

• Pam’s favorite recollections from working on “Secondhand Shenanigans”;

• What’s next on LCFTRA’s schedule, as they begin creating their 2024 Rose Parade® float.