Fiesta Parade Floats

Photo albums: Award-winning floats in the 2020 Rose Parade

On: January 29, 2020 By: LBM

“Stories Change Our World” sponsored by The UPS Store won Sweepstakes in the 131^st Rose Parade with its display of golden lion tamarin monkeys.

by Laura Berthold Monteros

“The Power of Hope,” theme of the 131^st Tournament of Roses, inspired floats with different stories to tell, but all with optimism and aspiration. From the humor of dodo birds flying a zeppelin to men and women in a cargo ship crossing the ocean in 1620 seeking freedom, the floats were a panoply of artistry, imagination, beauty, and hope.

Below are three photo galleries with images of the award winners in four categories: Sweepstakes, Entertainment Value, Float Design, Floral Design. There are six self-built winners and floats from professional builders AES, Fiesta Parade Floats, and Phoenix Decorating Company. The captions name the award and give a little information about each entry.

Rose Parade Trophies Get an Update for 2018 lists all the awards and what each one means. Rose Parade 2020 award-winning floats; The UPS Store takes Sweepstakes lists the 2020 winning floats, with sponsors, builders, and designers.

Sweepstakes and Entertainment Value

Extraordinaire: Chinese American Heritage Foundation “American Heroes,” a salute to the men and women who served in World War II on the 75th anniversary of its end.

Wrigley Legacy: Kaiser Permanente “Courage to Reimagine.” The Yellow Brick Road winds through a village where Ozites have access to health care, healthy foods, and a safe community.

Judges: Donate Life “Light in the Darkness” speaks to the hope that organ, eye, and tissue donation brings to donors, recipients, and families. Floragraphs honor the deceased donors.

The Cowboy Channel’s Rodeo New York Gold Buckle Brigade ushers in the Cowboy Channel float. Each rider earned her buckle on the professional rodeo circuit.

Showmanship: The Cowboy Channel “Walk Ride Rodeo” celebrates Amberley Snyder, who returned to barrel racing after being paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident, and the return of the rodeo to Madison Square Garden after 30 years.

Float Design

Theme: Pasadena Celebrates 2020 “Years of Hope, Years of Courage” marked the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment. One hundred women in suffragette dress followed the float.

Bob Hope Humor: La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. “Dodo Bird Flight School” celebrated the hopes of flightless birds. Dodos cluster aboard a dirigible, led by an emu trying out a whirlybird.

Director: Cal Poly Universities” Aquatic Aspirations.” Undersea explorers chance on a sunken ship that has become a home to a treasure of sea life. Bubbles float from the submarine.

Crown City Innovator: Trader Joe’s “It Takes a Flight of Fancy.” The Fearless Flyer jets out of the clouds in barrel-rolling pickle barrel. Trusty crew members and the Fearless Flyer puppet come along for the ride.

Grand Marshal: Chipotle Mexican Grill “Cultivate the Future of Farming.” Many of the 51 fresh ingredients served at Chipotle restaurants are used in the decoration of the float. The riders are young farmers, a reminder that as older farmers retire, younger ones are needed,

Fantasy: Northwestern Mutual “Spend Your Life Living.” A family of llamas tube down a Llazy River, with coats of ivory carnations and strawflower for their legs and faces.

Animation: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day “Plant a Garden…Believe in Tomorrow.” Dancing fruit and flowers remind folks that a garden is full of hope as small seeds grow into beautiful and healthy plants.

Americana: General Society of Mayflower Descendants “The Voyage of Hope—1620” memorializes the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrims in North America. The bright colors worn by the riders are accurate for the time.

Golden State: Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens “Cultivating Curiosity” depicts some of the iconic landmarks at The Huntington. Mary Cassatt’s “Breakfast in Bed,” Edward Hopper’s “The Long Leg,” and the Ellesmere Chaucer represent the collections.

Mayor: South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn. “Victory at Last.” A huge straw hat, ballot box, and plenty of purple, green, and gold—the colors of the Women’s Suffrage movement—celebrate 100 years of federal voting for women.

Floral Design

President: Sierra Madre Rose Float Assn. “Ka lā hiki ola” (“The Dawning of a New Day”). Tropicbirds soar around a lush floral island with rotating tikis and Hawaiian dancers on and around the float.

Isabella Coleman: AIDS Healthcare Foundation “Hope for the Homeless.” Tiny homes call attention to two crises: homelessness and affordable housing. AHF has lent its voice to several different causes with its floats over the years.

Queen: Dole Packaged Foods “Sunshine for All.” A brilliant sun packed with 60,000 roses in shades fading from orange to yellow to white greets the new day. An additional 20,000 roses fill the deck gardens.

Leishman Public Spirit: Burbank Tournament of Roses Assn. “Rise Up” honors the courage and spirit of hope that arise out of the ashes of California’s most deadly and devastating fire season in 2018. Beneath the phoenix, a waterfall and renewed growth create a haven for wildlife.

Princess: City of Torrance “Our Garden of Hope and Dreams” recreates the Pine Wind Garden at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. At the front is a pond with leaping koi and a sunning turtle.

Past President: City of Hope “City of Hope.” The Tree of Wisdom at the center symbolizes the different branches of science and care at the 107-year-old research and treatment facility. The lush floral decoration uses 85,875 roses, orchids, delphinium, and other flowers.

Founder: Downey Rose Float Assn. “On the Wings of Hope.” “Paper” cranes winging over a Japanese garden bring happiness, wisdom, health, and hope. Downey queen and princesses grace the float.

International: China Airlines “Dreams of Flying, Wings of Hope.” A cheerful airliner bursts out of a music box, along with other icons of Taiwan, from noodles to lanterns to spinning tops and a skyscraper.

Tournament Volunteer: Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee “Hope Connects the World” is joined by Optimist International. A floating penguin is guided on an international journey by a crew of Rotarians and Optimists, tethered to common ideals.

3 Rose Parade Deco Week photo galleries—self-builts, AES, Phoenix, Fiesta

On: December 31, 2019January 31, 2020 By: LBM

South Pasadena does not have a float barn, and builds the float under the only concrete bridge designed by architects Charles and Henry Greene.

by Laura Berthold Monteros

Your Rose Examiner spent three consecutive days walking the float barns, and came back with tons of photos. For these galleries, I’ve chosen one of each float, shots I particularly like, just to give a flavor of the process and introduce readers to the floats that will glide along the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2020.

The barns and decorating sites were pretty packed and the decorators were working furiously to get the dry dec on. I managed to fit in two conversations, one with Erik C. Andersen and Linda Cozakos at Burbank Tournament of Roses Association., and one with Harry Gill and Minu Singh at the Sikh American float in the Phoenix Decorating Company barn, which can be read here.

Photos in Gallery A were taken on Dec. 28 and 29, and include AES and five self-built floats (we didn’t go down to the Downey float barn). Gallery B was taken on Dec. 30 at Phoenix Decorating Company. Gallery C was also taken on Dec. 30, at Fiesta Parade Floats.

Deco Week Gallery A

Sierra Madre Rose Float Assn., La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn., AES, Cal Poly Universities, South Pasadena Rose Float Assn., Burbank Rose Float Assn.

A plethora of flowers ready to be put on the Rose Parade vehicles that will carry Tournament of Roses celebrities

University of Oregon cheerleader float (Wisconsin is similar, in red)

Burbank Tournament of Roses Assn. This is the first time Burbank has used fire on a float.

Deco Week Gallery B

Phoenix Decorating Company

Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Deco Week Gallery C

Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DIGALERT)

General Society of Mayflower Descendants

Photos: 24 award-winning floats in the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade

On: December 19, 2019December 19, 2019 By: LBM

“Spend Your Life Living” in the S.S. Elephie by Northwestern Mutual won the Bob Hope Humor Award

by Laura Berthold Monteros

In anticipation of the upcoming 131^st Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2020, The Rose Examiner has put together a collection of photos of the award-winning floats that glided along the Rose Parade route in 2019. Take a look at the stunning and gorgeous creations that won in 24 contests.

We’ve split the photos into two galleries to avoid overwhelming our readers. Each photo is captioned with its award, sponsor, title, builder, and designer. Comments on the winners and descriptions of the awards in table form are in the article “Rose Parade 2019 float awards; The UPS Store takes Sweepstakes.”

All photos are copyrighted; contact The Rose Examiner for permissions.

Gallery A: Sweepstakes and Float Design categories

Animation: Burbank Tournament of Roses Assn. “Stompin’ Good Time” Self-built, Brian Cozakos and Adam Ostegard

Fantasy: Western Asset Management Co. “Yellow Submarine” Phoenix Decorating Company, Michelle Lofthouse

Crown City Innovator: Trader Joe’s “Ride, Captain, Ride” Phoenix Decorating Company, Michelle Lofthouse

Grand Marshal: Stella Rosa Wine “Taste the Magic” Fiesta Parade Floats, Mike Abboud

Theme: Shriners Hospitals for Children “Fezzy’s Garden of Hope and Healing” Phoenix Decorating Company, Michelle Lofthouse

Bob Hope Humor: Northwestern Mutual “Spend Your Life Living” Fiesta Parade Floats, Stanley Meyer

Golden State: Big Bear Rose Parade Assn. “Play—Rest—Repeat” Fiesta Parade Floats, Mike Abboud

Director: Sierra Madre Rose Float Assn. “Harmony’s Garden” Self-built, Jason Redfox

Americana: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day “Garden Fresh” Phoenix Decorating Company, Michelle Lofthouse

Mayor: South Pasadena Tournament of Roses, “Three Little Birds” Self-built, Mike Mera

Gallery B: Entertainment Value and Floral Design categories

Extraordinaire: Cal Poly Universities “Far Out Frequencies” Self-built, student designed

Judges: Donate Life “Rhythm of the Heart” Fiesta Parade Floats, Charles Meier

Wrigley Legacy: Dole Packaged Foods “Rhythm of Paradise,” Stanley Meyer

Showmanship: Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Animation “How to Train Your Dragon—The Hidden World” AES, John Ramirez

Princess: City of Alhambra “Home Tweet Home” Phoenix Decorating Company, Dave Pittman

Tournament Volunteer: City of Torrance “The Power of Music” Fiesta Parade Floats, Art Aguirre

President: City of Hope “Harmony of Hope” Phoenix Decorating Company, Michelle Lofthouse

Queen: Farmers Insurance Group “A Carousel of Experience” Phoenix Decorating Company, Rachel Lofthouse

Founder: La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. “Tree Frog Night,” Self-built, Reneé Hoss-Johnson

Isabella Coleman: United Sikh Mission “A Divine Melody Resonates in All” Phoenix Decorating Company, Michelle Lofthouse

International: China Airlines “Rhythm of Taiwan” AES, John Ramirez

Leishman Public Spirit: Easterseals “Celebrating Easterseals 100 Years of Disability Services” Fiesta Parade Floats, Charles Meier

Past President: Underground Service Alert of Southern California “Backyard Harmony” Fiesta Parade Floats, Art Aguirre

List of floats in the 2020 Rose Parade with titles, builders, designers

On: December 14, 2019December 14, 2019 By: LBM

The Chinese American Heritage Foundation returns to the Rose Parade with a tribute to WWII Congressional Gold Medal honorees.

by Laura Berthold Monteros

As promised, here is the most complete public listing of the floats that will appear in the 131^st Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2020. The chart below lists the sponsor, title, builder, and designer for each of the 42 floats. The awards presented in 2019 are also noted.

New sponsors this year are General Society of Mayflower Descendants, celebrating 400 years since Plymouth Rock; Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, for its centennial; Pasadena Celebrates 2020, the centennial of the 19^th Amendment; The Cowboy Channel, to promote its upcoming rodeo in Madison Square Garden; The SCAN Foundation; and Wescom Credit Union. Long-time sponsors who were in the 2019 parade are all returning, but still absent are Lucy Pet, Miracle-Gro, Singpoli, and the City of Los Angeles. Also missing are 24 Hour Fitness and the American Armenian Rose Float Association.

There are 39 sponsored entries, six of them self-built, and three Tournament of Roses entries, including the Royal Court float and two floats for the schools playing in the 106^th Rose Bowl Game. Phoenix decorating company tops the numbers with 18 floats, followed by Fiesta with 11 and AES with five, seven if they build the team floats, which they have done in the past.

The most prolific designer is Michelle Lofthouse of Phoenix Decorating, with 18 entries. Sometimes, designers cross boundaries and create concepts for more than one commercial builder, but this year, they break down by company: AES, John Ramirez (4); Fiesta, Michael Abboud (4), Stanley Meyer (3), Art Aguirre (2), Charles Meier (2); Phoenix, Michelle Lofthouse (17), Rachel Lofthouse (3).

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131^st Tournament of Roses Parade Floats

Sponsor	Title	Builder	Designer	2019 Award
AIDS Healthcare Foundation	“Hope for the Homeless”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Art Aguirre
Amazon Studios	“Troop Zero”	AES	John Ramirez
American Honda Motor Company	“Our Hope for the Future”	AES	John Ramirez
Blue Diamond Almonds	“The Best Almonds Make the Best Almondmilk”	AES	John Ramirez
Burbank Tournament of Roses Association	“Rise Up”	Self-Built	Lisa Long	Animation
Cal Poly Universities	“Aquatic Aspirations”	Self-Built	Student designed	Extraordinaire
China Airlines	“Dreams of Flying, Wings of Hope”	AES	John Ramirez	International
Chinese American Heritage Foundation (CAHF)	“American Heroes”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Mike Abboud
Chipotle Mexican Grill	“Cultivate the Future of Farming”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Mike Abboud
City of Alhambra, CA	“Hope Keeps Us Going”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse	Princess
City of Hope	“City of Hope”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse	President
City of Torrance	“Our Garden of Hope and Dreams”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Art Aguirre	Tournament Volunteer
Dole Packaged Foods	“Sunshine for All”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Mike Abboud	Wrigley Legacy
Donate Life	“Light in the Darkness”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Charles Meier	Judges
Downey Rose Float Association	“On the Wings of Hope”	Self-Built	Thom Neighbors, Carrie Redfox
Farmers Insurance	“Conveyor of Hope”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Rachel Lofthouse	Queen
General Society of Mayflower Descendants	“The Voyage of Hope – 1620”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Mike Abboud
Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens	“Cultivating Curiosity”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse
Kaiser Permanente	“Courage to Reimagine”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Stanley Meyer
Kiwanis International	“Soaring with Hope”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse
La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association	“Dodo Bird Flight School”	Self-Built	Ted Baumgart, Grant Delgatty	Founder
Lions Clubs International	“Hope for 2020”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse
Lutheran Laymen’s League	“Anchored in Jesus”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day	“Plant a Garden…Believe in Tomorrow”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse	Americana
Northwestern Mutual	“Spend Your Life Living”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Stanley Meyer	Bob Hope Humor
Odd Fellows Rebekahs Rose Float	“First Responders Bring Hope”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse
Pasadena Celebrates 2020	“Years of Hope, Years of Courage”	AES	AES
Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee	“Hope Connects the World”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse
Shriners Hospitals for Children	“Hope Knows No Limits”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Rachel Lofthouse	Theme
Sierra Madre Rose Float Association	“Ka lā hiki ola”	Self-Built	Jason Redfox	Director
Sikh American Float Foundation	“Planting Seeds of Hope”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse	Isabella Coleman
South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association	“Victory at Last”	Self-Built	Michael Mera	Mayor
The Cowboy Channel	“Walk Ride Rodeo”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Rachel Lofthouse
The SCAN Foundation	“Hope’s Heroes”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse
The UPS Store, Inc.	“Stories Change Our World”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Charles Meier	Sweepstakes
Tournament of Roses	2020 Royal Court	Phoenix Decorating Company	Preston Bailey
Tournament of Roses	Rose Bowl Game Team: University of Oregon	N/A	N/A
Tournament of Roses	Rose Bowl Game Team: University of Wisconsin	N/A	N/A
Trader Joe’s	“It Takes a Flight of Fancy”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse	Crown City Innovator
Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DIGALERT)	“The Power of Safety FIRST”	Fiesta Parade Floats	Stanley Meyer	Past President
Wescom Credit Union	“Better Together: Hope Creates Community”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse
Western Asset Management Company	“Growing a Better Tomorrow”	Phoenix Decorating Company	Michelle Lofthouse	Fantasy

UPDATE: Chinese American Heritage Foundation float from a director’s perspective

On: February 2, 2019 By: LBM

A beautiful way to honor the sponsor on “Harmony Through Union.” Photo by LB Monteros

John Schulte emailed The Rose Examiner to give an update on the fire that stalled the Chinese American Heritage Foundation float, “Harmony Through Union,” at the start of the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade. Schulte is one of the directors of the float, and his daughter, Blythe Abigail Su-Ren Schulte wrote and sang the theme song.

Schulte writes, “Since it’s been a month, I felt it was time to shed light on some of the folks who were involved in helping to safely resolve the fire that erupted inside the float — most specifically, John Strube, our driver.”

He included a link to an article he wrote, which is studded with shots of the float and riders. An additional link at the end of the article connects to more photos and background information on the riders, many of whom are descendants of the original Transcontinental Railroad workers.

The Rose Examiner did a debrief on Jan. 3 with Fiesta Parade Floats president Tim Estes.

FIRE! Chinese American Heritage Foundation float, the little engines that could

On: January 3, 2019January 22, 2019 By: LBM

After the fire, the Chinese American Heritage Foundation float was towed the length of the 2019 Rose Parade, still looking beautiful. Photo copyright LB Monteros 2019

Fire due to transmission fluid spray
All riders were safely evacuated
Fiesta Parade Floats president Tim Estes tells what happened

by Laura Berthold Monteros

Like the sturdy immigrants the Chinese American Heritage Foundation (CAHF) float honored, “Harmony Through Union” made it down the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade route on Tuesday, despite initial difficulties. The float celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. The Rose Examiner communicated with Fiesta Parade Floats president Tim Estes to get details on what happened when the 90-foot float, designed by Mike Abboud, had a fiery mishap.

When unexpected things happen, minutes twist around in a timey-wimey way. Sometimes it takes photos and time stamps to put things right. Using our photos, here is how I saw it from the scaffolding on the corner of Orange Grove and Colorado.

Descriptions are in the photo captions in the gallery below.

The float, moving north on Orange Grove Blvd. at 9:42, had just crossed Green St., one block before the turn onto Colorado Blvd. The smokestacks on the locomotives were emitting steam. Thirty seconds later, photos show a small puff of smoke on the right side, at the same time that colorful streamers were shot into the air.

I was not in a position to see flames, but Estes confirmed reports that there was a small fire, caused by a spray of transmission fluid from a fitting. There was a lot of smoke. Tournament of Roses quickly ran to the float, the riders and outwalkers evacuated, and no one was injured. Evacuation of the 26 riders took approximately 40 seconds. From first puff to dissipation of the smoke was nearly four minutes. [Note: TRE originally reported 10 riders; updated to 26 per a reader.]

Safety features

All floats have fire extinguishers, which the driver, observer, and other personnel on the float can quickly grab. During technical tests, there are practice fire drills. Riders must be able to climb to the ground from the float in no more than 45 seconds. All floats have tow bars that slide into a compartment under the float.

Response from Tim Estes to The Rose Examiner

I contacted Estes via email on Wednesday with a few questions and requests for clarification. He quickly responded, tempering his comments with the caveat that the investigation is in its early stages and he does not want to speculate on unknowns. He wrote,

“Have done some preliminary investigation along with the Tournament of Roses mechanical inspectors, so do not have a full report to make until we get more time to check things out. This will occur when the Tournament of Roses Inspectors can be attending/participating in our joint investigation. We will focus on two items:
1. To the best of our joint effort, come to a joint conclusion on what occurred to the best of joint abilities.
2. Based on our joint conclusion, determine if any new procedures should occur to avoid a reoccurrence on any float that is in the Rose Parade.”

Addressing speculation

I asked him about some of the scuttlebutt I had heard. My queries (in regular type) and his responses (in bold) are lightly edited for clarity.

A white suiter told me the hydraulic line broke, so the float lost brakes and steering. No hydraulic line broke. The float never lost brakes or steering.
I also read it was a transmission fluid leak. The transmission itself did not leak and no transmission lines broke. It preliminarily appears that a mist of transmission fluid sprayed from a fitting on the external transmission cooler appeared to land on the exhaust pipe and created the smoke, but we will further check this out over the next few days.
There was a small fire, which I didn’t see, due to the smoke. Everyone got off the float safely. Yes that occurred and glad no one got hurt.
The tow truck couldn’t tow the float. The tow truck from Jan’s Towing towed the entire, intact float, to the post parade area to be on display along with all of the other floats.
The second part of the float was hinged to the first and did not have a separate tow bar. The second part of the float was connected to the first part of the float with a tow hitch, just like a truck towing a big RV trailer. Since the second part of the float was connected to the first part of the float with a tow hitch, it would not have a tow bar required.
The float building only began two weeks ago. This had zero impact on what occurred. The float was built on the float chassis that was inspected by the Tournament of Rose Mechanical inspectors on Oct. 13. They inspect numerous items which include the engine, transmission and brakes. There was nothing indicated on the inspection report of anything wrong with the engine, transmission or transmission oil cooler. As parts of the float got built, they were installed on the pre-inspected float chassis.
There were some problems getting it built. I had no problems building the float. I find it interesting that no one spoke to me or asked me any questions on the construction of the float. Instead it appears that people not in the know are making up comments or are speculating/guessing.

I also posed some questions of my own.

How much did this float weigh? When I was at Fiesta on Friday, it looked to me like it had a lot of heavy steel framing, but Fiesta has built floats for Joey Herrick that had to be much heavier. The float weighed approximately 45,000 pounds which is about the weight of an average float and the float had 12 wheels. The dog surfing float we did and will recall, weighed in at 142,000 pounds and had 26 wheels. Over my many years, I have built dozen of floats that have weighed more than 45,000 pounds.
How many tow trucks were needed? One tow truck towed the float to the Post Parade viewing area. It was from Jan’s Towing and I want to go on record that they did a great job and the driver (Steve) was great in his operation of his tow truck!

Getting underway

Usually, when a float breaks down, it is quickly towed to the side to allow other units to pass. The CAHF float was not as easy to move as a smaller, one-part float. The trailing half was jackknifed, perhaps to make more room. Once the area was cleared and it was safe to proceed, the units began coming through, though not in program order.

The first was, ironically, the Gold Rush Fire Brigade, which had been slotted in behind the CAHF entry. Next came the Lincoln-Way Marching Band, but by then, it was 9:48 a.m. The broadcast of the parade must end at precisely 10 a.m., so the Tournament gave the go-ahead to the Wells Fargo closing show. Wells Fargo is a long-time presenting sponsor of the Tournament of Roses.

Coming up behind, in order, were South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association “Three Little Birds,” DigAlert “Making It Safe for All,” and the Royal Swedish Cadet Band. These three entries did not make it into the national broadcast, but readers can see them on KTLA.com. There doesn’t seem to be footage of the CAHF float; if a reader has access to video, please email me at LauraBMonteros@theroseexaminer.com

Several readers asked if there will be a fine for Fiesta Parade Floats. The Tournament does levy fines for breakdowns, from $10,000 to $80,000. Estes addresses it in this article by Tracy Bloom of KTLA.

This article focusing on an unhappy incident cannot do justice to this beautiful float and the rich history it commemorates. The Rose Examiner will follow up with those details in a later article.

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All photos are copyrighted. Contact the administrator for permissions.

Chinese American Heritage Foundation float “Harmony in Union” at the 2019 Rose Parade celebrated the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and honored the immigrants who built it.

Lion dancers from Southern Wind Lion Dance of Irvine. Calif. walk alongside the CAHF float on Orange Grove Blvd.; the first indication of trouble can be seen in the small puff of smoke.

It doesn’t seem like at this point, the riders and outwalkers noticed the fire. Both locomotives were puffing steam from their smokestacks as streamers shot from the float.

More smoke, more streamers. The singer at the front is 21-year-old Blythe Abigail Su-Ren Schulte, performing the song she wrote for the occasion, “Out of Many, One!”

It’s been about a minute since the fire started, and Tournament of Roses white suiters begin to clear the area.

A white suiter runs to assist with the CAHF float.

As the smoke obscures the float, Tournament volunteers scramble to clean up the streamers.

Barely seen through the smoke, the last person comes off the CAHF float to safety. No one was hurt. The evacuation took about 40 seconds.

Everyone’s off the float. Sheriff’s deputies are on scene. It looks like the white suiter to the right of the photo is pulling out the tow bar.

Everyone has a job to do. Volunteers pick up streamers, white suiters work to attach the tow bar. The media records the moment. Green Street is to the right, where the screen stands.

Figuring out the problem and how to get that float out of the way.

The smoke is pretty well gone. From the first indication of trouble until it was safe to bring other units around was just less than four minutes.

The Gold Rush Fire Brigade braves the final wisps of smoke to get around the CAHF float.

A white suiter directs Rose Parade units so that the tow truck can get to the CAHF float.

Truck from Jan’s Towing stops to let the Lincoln-Way Marching Band by. It was Abraham Lincoln who authorized the Transcontinental Railroad.

A deputy talks to the truck driver just prior to hooking up the tow bar.

Hooked up and ready to roll! The riders are back on the float and the lion dancers are in place. The float was stopped for 14 minutes.

The Chinese American Heritage Foundation float was towed the length of the 2019 Rose Parade, still looking beautiful.

Pasadena Fire Chief Bertal Washington walks to the CAHF float, now parked on Colorado Blvd.

The CAHF float was towed around the corner and parked on Colorado Blvd. It was some time before it was allowed to continue to the end.

A second tow truck was called in; it attempted to fasten chains to the back of the second unit.

Tow truck on right, connected to the front of the CAHF float on the left.

Two extraneous tow bars sit on the front of the CAHF float.

Rose Parade 2019 float awards; The UPS Store takes Sweepstakes

On: January 1, 2019December 19, 2019 By: LBM

The UPS Store “Books Keep Us On Our Toes” won the 2019 Rose Parade Sweepstakes trophy.

by Laura Berthold Monteros

The Tournament of Roses announced the winners of the 24 float awards for the 2019 Rose Parade to the media at shortly after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. The chart of winners is below, but here are some observations before you peruse it.

Sweepstakes was won by The UPS Store, with a giant, toe-dancing ostrich. It brings the trophy back to Fiesta Parade Floats, after Paradiso Parade Floats took it home last year. It’s fitting that though Paradiso is no more, former owner Charles Meier was the designer for The UPS Store. His company was the first one in more than two decades to break Fiesta’s Sweepstakes streak with floats sponsored by Singpoli in 2016 and 2018.

Once again, Meier turned in a hundred-percent win percentage, with The UPS Store (Sweepstakes), Donate Life (Judges), and Easterseals (Leishman Public Spirit) floats. His designs were built by Fiesta Parade Floats.

Fitting also was the Theme award going to Shriners Hospitals for Children “Fezzy’s Garden of Hope and Healing.” Tournament Pres. Gerald Freeny chose the theme “The Melody of Life,” because through his health struggles and two transplants, music had brought him healing. That, and because his wife and daughter insisted on it.

A word on the International award: Readers may recall that The Rose Examiner has sometimes carped about this award, because there is usually only one float competing, China Airlines. This year, however, the float was so spectacular in design and entertainment, with dancers and drummers and brilliant florals, that is not only deserves the International award, but surely would have won an award in any case.

FTD is the official floral partner of the Tournament of Roses. The judges were Preston Bailey (who designed the new Royal Court float), Michael E. Berry, and Kimberly Oldis.

Here are the award totals: Fiesta Parade Floats, 9; Phoenix Decorating Company, 8; AES, 2; self-built, 5 (out of six organizations). The designer with the most wins was Michelle Lofthouse with 6 of 10 competing designs. Meier had the highest percentage.

For photos of all the award winning floats, see “Photos: 24 awards-winning floats in the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade”

2019 FLOAT AWARDS PRESENTED BY FTD

Award	Description	Participant	Theme	Builder
Sweepstakes	Most beautiful entry: encompassing float design, floral presentation and entertainment	The UPS Store, Inc.	Books Keep Us On Our Toes	Fiesta
Americana	Most outstanding depiction of national treasures and traditions	Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day	Garden Fresh	Phoenix
Animation	Most outstanding use of animation	Burbank Tournament of Roses Association	Stompin’ Good Time	Self-Built
Bob Hope Humor	Most whimsical and amusing float	Northwestern Mutual	Spend Your Life Living	Fiesta
Crown City Innovator	Most outstanding use of imagination, innovation and technology	Trader Joe’s Company	Ride Captain Ride	Phoenix
Director	Most outstanding artistic design and use of floral and non-floral materials	Sierra Madre Rose Float Association	Harmony’s Garden	Self-Built
Extraordinaire	Most extraordinary float	Cal Poly Universities	Far Out Frequencies	Self-Built
Fantasy	Most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination	Western Asset Management Company	Yellow Submarine	Phoenix
Founder	Most outstanding float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization	La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association	Tree Frog Night!	Self-Built
Golden State	Most outstanding depiction of life in California	Big Bear Rose Parade Association	Play-Rest-Repeat	Fiesta
Grand Marshal	Most outstanding creative concept and float design	Stella Rosa Wines	Taste The Magic featuring Kool & The Gang	Fiesta
International	Most outstanding float from outside the United States	China Airlines	Rhythm of Taiwan	AES
Isabella Coleman	Most outstanding presentation of color and color harmony through floral design	United Sikh Mission	A Divine Melody Resonates In All	Phoenix
Judges	Most outstanding float design and dramatic impact	Donate Life	Rhythm of the Heart	Fiesta
Leishman Public Spirit	Most outstanding floral presentation from a non-commercial participant	Easterseals	Celebrating Easterseals 100 Years of Disability Services	Fiesta
Mayor	Most outstanding float from a participating city	South Pasadena Tournament of Roses	Three Little Birds	Self-Built
Past President	Most outstanding innovation in the use of floral and non-floral materials	Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DigAlert)	Backyard Harmony	Fiesta
President	Most outstanding use and presentation of flowers	City of Hope	Harmony of Hope	Phoenix
Princess	Most outstanding floral presentation among entries 35 feet and under in length	City of Alhambra	Home Tweet Home	Phoenix
Queen	Most outstanding presentation of roses	Farmers Insurance Group	A Carousel of Experience	Phoenix
Showmanship	Most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment	Universal Pictures & Dreamworks Animation presents How To Train Your Dragon	How to Train Your Dragon – The Hidden World	AES
Theme	Most outstanding presentation of the Rose Parade Theme	Shriners Hospitals for Children	Fezzy’s Garden of Hope and Healing	Phoenix
Tournament Volunteer	Most outstanding floral presentation of the Rose Parade Theme among floats 35 feet and under in length	City of Torrance/ Torrance Rose Float Association	The Power of Music	Fiesta
Wrigley Legacy	Most outstanding display of floral presentation, float design and entertainment	Dole Packaged Foods	Rhythm of Paradise	Fiesta

Visiting the float barns during 2019 Rose Parade Deco Week

On: December 31, 2018 By: LBM

by Laura Berthold Monteros

The Rose Examiner dropped in on the three float barns last Friday and Saturday to see the progress of the creations at the commercial builders and to talk to some of the folks doing the decorating. The 130^th Tournament of Roses Parade happens on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, so the decorators—almost all volunteers—were busy cutting statice, powdering rice, gluing on flowers, and filling vials.

Be sure to check out the gallery below to see the progress all those volunteers were making.

Making the rounds at Phoenix Decorating Company

Ryan Young with the Farmers Insurance float.

Our trip started off with a bang at Phoenix Decorating Company in Irwindale. We had just walked in the door when a sound like an I-beam hitting the floor split the air. Those cavernous float barns echo, so it turned out it wasn’t as bad as it sounded. There had been a small explosion under the Trader Joe’s float. The folks at Phoenix reacted immediately, with crew chiefs hurrying the decorators off the scaffolding and away from the float.

“Go back to your floats, go back to your floats!” the other volunteers were ordered. Everyone complied, because after all, those floats had to be covered with flowers in less than four days.

We asked a man who had been waiting to work on the Kiwanis float if it was scary. “It certainly was,” he said. Another man suggested that the sulphur-scented smoke we noticed might well be just dust and glue, and we returned to our tour of the floats

At the Farmers Insurance float, “A Carousel of Experience,” we met Ryan Young, a Philadelphia transplant. He’s only been in Pasadena for a few months, and already he was fully into the experience of decorating a float.

“I didn’t realize the scale,” he said, comparing the TV version and the real thing. “It’s neat to see it coming together.”

Young works in procurement for Farmers, which is a good match for his role on the float. He said his job is to be a runner, getting whatever anyone working on the float needs.

At the United Sikh Mission float, “A Divine Melody Resonates in All,” we ran into creative director Minu Singh, whom we spoke with last year. The float features a giant rabab, which she said was the first Sikh instrument. It was used by Guru Nanak to spread his message of the oneness of all though his poems and songs.

“Everything in our holy book is music,” Singh said. “Every time we congregate, it’s about singing.” She spoke of an “eternal cosmic symphony.” “Every bit of creation is part of the symphony,” she said.

A few blocks north at Fiesta Parade Floats

Tejinder and Simran cut statice for the United Sikh Mission float at Phoenix Decorating Company.

We got to Fiesta Parade Floats around lunch time, and most of the volunteers were up on the floats or scaffolds so we stuck to taking pictures. We did notice that there were a couple towering humans looking down from the decks, though.

Lono, the Hawaiian god of music and peace and the deity associated with the fertile lands of the Hawaiian Islands stands at the front of “Rhythms of Paradise,” the Dole Packaged Foods float. Stella Rosa lets the genie out of the (wine) bottle with “Taste of Magic.” (Others are on the American Armenian float at Phoenix and AES’ 24 Hour Fitness float.)

“Harmony Through Union,” the first entry from the Chinese American Heritage Foundation, doesn’t have a whole human, but it does have two spectacularly huge arms, one holding a mallet and the other a golden spike to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the historic meeting of the eastern and western portions of the Transcontinental Railroad in Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869, and to celebrate the contributions of immigrants.

Rosemont Pavilion

Denise Godfrey and Emma McGregor at the Cal Poly Universities float.

Previously used by Phoenix Decorating Company, Rosemont Pavilion now holds the AES floats for final decorating, as well as Cal Poly Universities and the FTD vehicle decorating. We were able to strike up a couple conversations at the floats. Check back after the Rose Parade for more about the four vehicles that will carry the celebrities in the parade.

At the Cal Poly float, “Far Out Frequencies,” we were given a California Grown sticker, which indicates that 85 percent of the floral material on the float was grown in California. Denise Godfrey was there with her daughter Emma McGregor. Their family business, Olive Hill Greenhouses, was founded by Godfrey’s parents in 1973. They have been supplying indoor plants to Cal Poly for about four years.

At the Chipotle Mexican Grill float, “Cultivate a Better World,” we found Russ Wimmer and Aida Bueno busily mixing spices to cover the float. And that is mostly what will cover the float. Wimmer told us that Chipotle insisted that only the 51 ingredients used at their restaurants can be used on the floats.

Red is created with a mixture of fresh chili pepper flakes and chili powder. The wood is brown rice instead of the usual paper bark, and juniper berries, oregano, lemon leaf, and corn husks are seen throughout the float. Baskets laid out around the deck like a vegetable stand will be filled with fresh produce. The only roses will be a red edging around the bottom and white spray roses tucked into a garland of red chili peppers. The Tournament of Roses granted a variance to allow a wheelchair lift at the back to remain uncovered.

For a list of all the floats with builders and designers, read “Rose Parade 2019 float entries.”

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Clearing the space around the Trader Joe’s float (left) at Phoenix Decorating Company. The man with the red backpack is one of the Red Cross personnel on duty.

Brand new design for the Royal Court float at Phoenix Decorating Company.

Big buckets, small buckets, countless flowers at Phoenix.

Phoenix staff look into the driver’s compartment on the Trader Joe’s float to get a take on the explosion.

It takes a certain fearlessness to glue on flowers while perched on scaffolding.

A Kiwanis volunteer grinds rice to a powder for the whites on the floats.

Honda is really promoting their new vehicles this year. Can you spot the one that is real?

Putting jewels in the queen’s crown at Phoenix.

Flower by flower, the side will be covered. All the flowers are natural colors, never dyed.

Powdered rice is scooped onto the sign for the Alhambra float.

First responders from the Red Cross told us, “We walk around [the barn], go back to our station outside, and walk around again.”

More giant humans on the American Armenian float, “Chanting Stones: Karahunj.”

United Sikh Mission “A Divine Melody Resonates in All” features a rabab that runs the length of the float.

At Fiesta Parade Floats, a volunteer works on the 90-foot-long Chinese American Heritage Foundation float, “Harmony Through Union.”

A genie rises from a wine bottle on Stella Rosa’s “Taste the Magic” at Fiesta.

Just because…What would a Dole float be without brilliant macaws?

A 20-foot-tall Hawaiian god, Lono, dances at the front of Dole’s “Rhythms of Paradise” at Fiesta.

The mallet to drive the Golden Spike on the Chinese American Heritage Foundation float.

The Golden Spike, ready for the hammer, on the Chinese American Heritage Foundation float.

Might not want to see this fellow in the backyard—unless he had called 811 first, of course! “Backyard Harmony” is sponsored by Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DIGALERT).

Over at Rosemont Pavilion, China Airlines “Rhythms of Taiwan” by AES promises drummers and dancers to bring excitement to the Rose Parade.

Volunteers putting on the chili pepper flakes mixed with chili powder to make the tractor red have to wear gloves to protect their skin. Chipotle Mexican Grill uses only ingredients that are served in their restaurants on “Cultivate a Better World,” built by AES.

Mixtures of spices and rice of various colors cover the wagon on “Cultivate a Better World,” sponsored by Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The overheight mechanism is down, so the scale of this giant runner from 24 Hour Fitness can’t be seen. “Tuned for Any Challenge” is built by AES.

This little green alien on “Far Out Frequencies” is getting a thorough checkup from Cal Poly students.

Billy buttons and pincushion protea make spiky otherworldly plants for “Far Out Frequencies,” built and decorated by Cal Poly Universities students.

Easterseals celebrates 100 years at Fiesta Parade Floats

On: December 19, 2018December 19, 2018 By: LBM

Actor Nic Novicki led a cheer—actually, several of them—to celebrate Easterseals 100th anniversary and the Rose Parade float at Fiesta Parade Floats.

by Laura Berthold Monteros

Easterseals has aided people with disabilities for a full century and is the largest disabilities service provider in the United States. To celebrate and honor this anniversary, the organzation is sending its first-ever entry, a giant flowered birthday cake down the Rose Parade route in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2019,. Last Saturday, Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) threw a party at Fiesta Parade Floats and invited Tournament of Roses Royalty to attend. Photos are below.

Nancy Weintraub, chief development officer for ESSC, said, “If there was ever a time to do one, this is now.” The 100^th is a big party, and “it deserves a parade.”

Board member Mary Platt told us “For years [we talked about] how to get our name out among a broader group of people.” The float was a dream of hers and others. “All of a sudden, this became a reality.”

The “all of a sudden” took 18 months to two years to get through the process of committee work, coordinating with the headquarters in Chicago, and going through design and building. The festive float, “Celebrating Easterseals: 100 Years of Disability Services,” was designed by Charles Meier with a 20-foot high cake, party horns, and presents.

Easterseals serves 1.5 million people with disabilities across the country every year. ESSC is the largest autism service in California, with 8,500 families. One of the goals of Easterseals is to build a more inclusive future for the 61 million Americans with diverse disabilities. There are services for adults, children, veterans, seniors, and caregivers. Services include day services, therapy, peer-to-peer groups which help with social interaction, camp, and assistance in finding housing and employment.

There were a couple celebrities making the rounds at the party: actress Jamie Brewer, who has been a recurring actress in 20 episodes of American Horror Story, and Nic Novicki, who has 45 acting credits on IMDB and a couple dozen credits in writing, producing, and directing. He had a recurring role on Boardwalk Empire, and as Tyrion Lannister in the spoof School of Thrones. Both were irrepresible in their excitement over the Easterseals float and the work the nonprofit does.

Novicki is an ESSC board member and Founder/Director Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. The short videos have people with disabilities on or behind the camera, and can be serious or funny. Some can be viewed at the link above, along with information on how to enter the sixth challenge in 2019.

Brewer has worked in theater since she went to a summer program in 8^th grade, for which she got college credit. She learned stagecraft, acting, and valuable skills for her career. In addition to American Horror Story, a new movie, Turnover, is in post production.

“An older man takes a new direction in life,” she explained. “He hires individuals who have different backgrounds, different abilities. Two special communities are represented: the Down Syndrome community and the deaf community.”

We asked if she sees herself as a role model and groundbreaker. She replied enthusiastically, “I am! I do break barriers! I’m the first woman with Down Syndrome to walk in a New York Fashion Week.”

When it was time to cut the real cake sitting in front of the float, President & CEO Mark Whitley underscored the “effort of inclusion” Easterseals promotes. “What better way to celebrate 100 years, than a float in the Rose Parade.”

Mary Platt stood with her son Michael, who is autistic, as she spoke. “The question is always, ‘What do you do?’” She said that the float will show some 80 million viewers all over the world what Easterseals does.

One of the most affecting speakers was Howard McBroom, Advocate for Easterseals. He worked himself into a job after some time of speaking with legislators and politicians as a volunteer. He was so effective in Sacramento, that Easterseals gave him a full-time job.

“Only one in five people with disabilities have affordable housing. The other four do not,” he stated. He says this is a “national disgrace.” When he meets with legislators who express sympathy, he tells them, “Compassion does not pay the bills.”

The young women on the Royal Court also spoke. Princess Helen Rossi, who has juvenile arthritis, said, “This event is special to me, because (for my Girl Scout Gold Award), I wrote a storybook for kids with disabilities.”

Queen Louise directly addressed the need for diversity. “I learned about Easterseals’ effort to destigmatize disability….Years ago, the Court was all white women,” she said, adding that the Tournament of Roses will continue to diversify.

“Celebrating Easterseals: 100 Years of Disability Services” will have 12 riders, spinning pinwheels, 3,000 hot pink roses, a coconut flake-covered cake, and lots and lots of marigolds. The flower is associated with Easterseals, and will be represented with fresh petals and stylized sculptures. McBroom will ride the float, with Easterseals Program Director Bryan Nguyen, who is a peer-to-peer counselor.

Kim Cohn, Vice President Marketing Communications for ESSC, explained how the riders were chosen. Each one of the 71 Easterseals affiliates were given the opportunity to nominate a rider, and 20 or 30 did.

“The committee looked for great, inspiring Easterseals stories, and those were chosen to ride the float,” she said.

Nine of the riders are Easterseals clients and three are accompanying riders. They are Kaison Shipp-Collier, 12, Easterseals Nevada (autism); Sophia Stafford, 17, Easterseals Southeastern Pennsylvania (Williams Syndrome), accompanied by sister Sabrina Stafford, Easterseals music therapist; Reagan Crabtree, 20, Easterseals Iowa (apraxia, autism); Blake Scribner, 21, Easterseals Central Illinois (brachial plexis injury), accompanied by Katie Pena, therapist; Matthew Jameson, 21, Easterseals Massachusetts (spastic diplegic cerebral palsy); Lora Glassman, 32, Easterseals Southern California (brain condition); Ernesto Gutierrez, 43, Easterseals Southern California (injury from an IED attack); Howard McBroom, 60, Easterseals Southern California (autism), accompanied by Brian Nguyen, Easterseals Program Director; danny Blake, 68, Easterseals Blake Foundation (cerebral palsy)

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Sweepstakes and Entertainment Value

Float Design

Floral Design

Deco Week Gallery A

Sierra Madre Rose Float Assn., La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn., AES, Cal Poly Universities, South Pasadena Rose Float Assn., Burbank Rose Float Assn.

Deco Week Gallery B

Phoenix Decorating Company

Deco Week Gallery C