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WELCOME TO FLOAT DEVELOPMENT

Float Development is responsible for Building, Decorating and Assembling the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Pasadena Tournament of Roses Float. The steps include the following items, all of which need volunteers. All are welcome.


2024 Float Construction Update

The milestones that the Construction, Deco, and Site groups have completed are as follows:
• Float selection
• La Canada Flintridge Fiesta Days Memorial Day Parade participation.
• Mechanical Inspection by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses.
• Decoration callout started.
• Under the Bridge planning started.

The remaining major milestones are as follows:
• Technical Inspection 1 (T1) by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Float should be about 60% complete except for closing, animation, and performance. The is a road test
• Opening volunteer signup, vetting the flower order, and finalizing the electronic press kit by the end of September.
• Closing the float by the first week in December.
• Technical Inspection 2 (T2) by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. This is a dress rehearsal of all float components and the satellite prior to decoration. This is a road test. 
• Complete the float and prepare to move Under the Bridge.
• During the second week in December, complete the decoration preparation and move Under the Bridge by December 24.
• December 20-31 complete building, decorating and having the float judged.



All About Construction

What Does it take to build a rose parade float?

“Volunteers” that is what it takes. La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association has been building floats for the Rose Parade since 1978 by its members and volunteers who have different skills and talents; some with nothing but the will to learn and help where they can. Some of the skills needed to build a float are welding, carving foam, computer programing, hydraulic, electrical and mechanical engineering.

La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association is self-built and decorated which means we build the float from the frame up and decorate by members and volunteers.

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Have you ever thought about what it takes to build a float? 

Here is a short explanation: it starts with picking the float design in early January, it then is handed to the designer who will create a color drawing, it’s then turned over to the engineers who design the structures and mechanisms necessary to make the float come to life.

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What are the benefits of building a rose parade float? 

First and foremost a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing you helped bring a smile to people around the world. Second making new friends and belonging to a community that is family oriented with a common goal to build an award winning Rose Parade float that is seen by millions of people on January 1st. 

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If you would like to volunteer or see the processes, please come by! We are at the float site every Saturday and sometimes on different days of the week from 9am. - 2pm. 

The float construction site is located behind the Valley Water Company at 4524 Hampton Road, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Turn into the driveway of Valley Water Company and pull up to the gate . . .


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Then honk your horn a couple of times 📣 📣 📣

or call 818-790-3818

and if there is a volunteer at the site they will open the gate for you. Bear to the left, park and join us.

If you have spare Saturdays and want to help (no prior experience needed), you can send an email to me at VPFloat@lcftra.org to get on the weekly email list.     


Pam Wiedenbeck 
V.P. of Float Development
LCFTRA 

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2022 Crown City Innovation Award Winner

 


What is the Crown City Innovator Award?


It was first given in 2008 to encourage risk taking and new Float building techniques to better awe the crowd. The innovations of its winners often inspire others in later years as a result of exceptional design and engineering. For example, the Cal Poly Rose Float won this award in 2008 for innovating an artistic waterfall. Derivatives have appeared in floats ever since.


Who has won it? Many big-budget floats: Trader Joe's (2020), 24 Hour Fitness (2019), Amazon (2018), Mutual of Omaha, Farmers, and others. In 12 parades, including this year, only two self-builts have won it: CalPoly and now us.


We are honored to have received it.