What does it take to independently build a float to enter in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses® Parade on New Year’s Day?

Every year since 1978, La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association has been answering that question.

Their imaginative responses tend to wow spectators and float judges alike.

Currently, LCFTRA volunteers are in the process of building their 2024 Rose Parade® float, “Flower Power”.

As one of only six independent, noncommercial floatbuilders (called “self-builts”) in the parade on New Year’s Day, volunteer staff do all the fundraising, building and decorating. Not to mention the test drives and getting the float in place in time for its debut on New Year’s Day!

And if you’re in the La Canada-Flintridge area, they’d love to have your help!

In March, we talked with LCFTRA Vice President of Float Development Pam Wiedenbeck about the components of science, technology, engineering, art and math involved in float construction.

This year, we have the honor of following their journey, as they create their 2024 Rose Parade® entry.

A year-round creative process

LCFTRA has had their proposed 2024 float design approved by Tournament of Roses®. The first of three required float inspections has happened. The group, which held a “name the float” contest for the first time this year, has selected the name for their float.

And now, it’s time to build.

Work parties happen every Saturday, from 9 am to 2 pm, at LCFTRA’s facility on Hampton Road in La Canada – Flintridge. They need volunteers for all kinds of positions, including assisting with cleanup after the day’s building is finished! Here’s the link for information.

Pam offered a look at what’s happening right now with float construction, some of the considerations that go into animating “Flower Power” and some of the other components of LCFTRA’s “wow factor”.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• What the first float inspection is like;

• The next steps in the process of preparing the float;

• A closer look at LCFTRA’s “name the float” contest, a “first” for this year, and what happened next;

• The challenges unique to creating this specific float;

• Some of the ways LCFTRA has used animation on previous floats;

• Tentative plans for animation on “Flower Power”;

• Considerations involved in putting together the “show” on the float;

• The different construction methods that could be used;

• How to support LCFTRA in their fundraising!;

• A preview of their upcoming fundraising events;

• An insider’s look at an annual social event that happens with the six noncommercial “self-builts”;

• How the musical selections for “Flower Power” might be chosen;

• The “dominoes” which LCFTRA is currently lining up to create the float;

• “Call out” for the float (details that will tell the deco team how much of each material might be needed;

• What’s next in the construction and preparation process;

• Some of the ways LCFTRA deals with weather considerations;

• One past Parade story that illustrates how “the show must go on”;

• Pam’s favorite aspect, so far, of working on the “Flower Power” float;