24 Hour Fitness 2019 Rose Parade float by AES. Courtesy Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.
by Laura Berthold Monteros
The 2019 Rose Parade float listing is out, and we promised our readers that we would give a more complete breakdown of the flowered creations that will roll along Colorado Blvd. for the 130th Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2019. The chart below lists the sponsors, title, builder, and designer for each float. The awards presented in 2018 are also noted.
There are 40 sponsored entries and three Tournament of Roses entries. This year, Phoenix Decorating Company is building the new Royal Court float, which Fiesta Parade Floats has done for many years.
Phoenix tops the numbers with 17 floats, followed by Fiesta with 13 and AES with seven. Five of those are sponsored, which is more than usual for AES. Designers with more than one entry are Mike Abboud (4), Art Aguirre (2), Charles Meier (3), and Stanley Meyers (4) for Fiesta; Michelle Lofthouse (11), Rachel Lofthouse (2), and Dave Pittman (2) for Phoenix; John Ramirez (5) for AES.
Most of the long-time sponsors are returning for 2019, but four who entered for several consecutive years are not: Lucy Pet, Miracle-Gro, Singpoli, and most astonishing, the City of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the longest-running entry in the Rose Parade, racking up its 120th float last year. We will see what we can find out about that one.
New sponsors are Big Bear Rose Parade Association, Blue Diamond Almonds, Carnival Cruise Lines, Chinese American Heritage Foundation, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Easterseals, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, The American Legion, and Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Animation. Stella Rosa Wines had one previous entry in 2014.
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130th Rose Parade Floats
Sponsor | Title | Builder | Designer | 2018 Award |
24 Hour Fitness | “Tuned for Any Challenge” | AES | John Ramirez | |
AIDS Healthcare Foundation | “Another Day in Paradise” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Art Aguirre | |
American Armenian Rose Float Association | “Chanting Stones: Karahunj” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Johnny Kanounji | Judges |
American Honda Motor Company | “Celebration of Dreams” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | |
Big Bear Rose Parade Association | “Play—Rest—Repeat” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Mike Abboud | |
Blue Diamond Almonds | “The Best Almonds Make the Best Almondmilk” | AES | John Ramirez | |
Burbank Tournament of Roses Association | “Stompin’ Good Time” | Self-Built | Brian Cozakos, Adam Ostegard | Founder |
Cal Poly Universities | “Far Out Frequencies” | Self-Built | Student designed | Past President |
Carnival Cruise Line | “Come Sail Away” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Mike Abboud | |
China Airlines | “Rhythms of Taiwan” | AES | John Ramirez | International |
Chinese American Heritage Foundation (CAHF) | “Harmony Through Union” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Mike Abboud | |
Chipotle Mexican Grill | “Cultivate a BetterWorld” | AES | John Ramirez | |
City of Alhambra, CA | “Home Tweet Home” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Dave Pittman | |
City of Hope | “Harmony of Hope” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | Isabella Coleman |
City of Torrance | “The Power of Music” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Art Aguirre | Mayor |
Dole Packaged Foods | “Rhythm of Paradise” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Stanley Meyers | Grand Marshal’s |
Donate Life | “Rhythm of the Heart” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Charles Meier | Theme |
Downey Rose Float Association | “Let’s Go to the Hop” | Self-Built | Jeff Shadic, Thom Neighbors | Queen |
Easterseals | “Celebrating Easterseals” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Charles Meier | |
Farmers Insurance | “A Carousel of Experience” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Rachel Lofthouse | American |
Kaiser Permanente | “Music Moves Us—Inspring a Healthier World” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Stanley Meyers | |
Kiwanis International | “Helping Kids Rock Their Future” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Dave Pittman | |
La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association | “Tree Frog Night” | Self-Built | Renee’ Hoss-Johnson | Bob Hope Humor |
Lions Clubs International | “Rockin’ the Vest” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Rachel Lofthouse | |
Lutheran Laymen’s League | “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | |
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day | “Garden Fresh” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | |
Northwestern Mutual | “Spend Your Life Living” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Stanley Meyers | |
Odd Fellows Rebekahs Rose Float | “200 Years of Harmony” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | Director |
Rotary | “Service Rocks” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | Princess |
Shriners Hospitals for Children | “Fezzy’s Garden of Hope and Healing” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | Tournament Volunteer |
Sierra Madre Rose Float Association | “Harmony’s Garden” | Self-Built | Jason Redfox | Fantasy |
South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association | “Three Little Birds” | Self-Built | Mike Mera | |
Stella Rosa Wines | “Taste the Magic” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Mike Abboud | |
The American Legion | “Still Serving America” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | |
The UPS Store, Inc. | “Books Keep Us on Our Toes” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Charles Meier | Extraordinaire |
Tournament of Roses | 2019 Royal Court | Phoenix Decorating Company | Preston Bailey | |
Tournament of Roses | Rose Bowl Game Team: University of Washington | AES | N/A | |
Tournament of Roses | Rose Bowl Game Team: Ohio State University | AES | N/A | |
Trader Joe’s | “Ride Captain Ride” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | Showmanship |
Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DIGALERT) | “Backyard Harmony” | Fiesta Parade Floats | Stanley Meyers | Animation |
United Sikh Mission | “A Divine Melody Resonates in All” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | Leishman Public Spirit |
Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Animation | “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” | AES | John Ramirez | |
Western Asset Management Company | “Yellow Submarine” | Phoenix Decorating Company | Michelle Lofthouse | President |