A New Day (Year) Dawns

While yesterday’s story was a summary of last year's New Years eve in Pasadena…today I’m going to relate some interesting notes about last year’s visit to the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl game….and in subsequent postings, I hope to tie them all together.

A 4:30 a.m. wake up call is required if you are going to the parade and be in your seat for the start of the parade at its prompt 0800 hours start time. We are only 5 kilometers from our seats. It’s dark and quiet outside after breakfast as we head to the bus taking us to our reserved grandstand. Standing waiting to board, we can see our breath in the headlights. Some folks have gloves with them.

Aboard our bus, we move out with our credentials draped neatly on lanyards around our necks (the parade seat tickets, the football game seat tickets and our luncheon VIP passes).

All lined up at our hotel awaiting departure

Soon, a convoy of buses forms along with our CHiP motorcycle escorts. With lights flashing and flags fluttering we travel the parade route in reverse…past those that have held their domain and viewing spots through the night. After listening to post-parade instructions, we de-bus

On our way to our parade seats before the start

and start the trek almost a kilometer to our seats at camera corner (Orange Grove at Colorado). We are only an hour away from the parade start when we get seated.

Helicopters hover overhead. Security is tight. The massive movement of people scampering to find their seat access points before the streets close down. The bluest of skies reveals the sun
rising behind our position…piercing the shadows…the resulting warm feeling amplifies the anticipation of the 125^th  Tournament Parade. The numbers on the street begin thinning as the grandstands fill. Over 700,000 will be watching this parade today
                                                                                    with  an estimated 70 million viewers around the
                                                                                    world watching on TV.

The crowd getting to their seats BEFORE it begins

With the odd “white suiter” now riding their red moped to clear the street…we are but moments away. A flurry of bugles from the Pasadena Community College honour guard and the televised event is under way….the Goodyear blimp floats past our position and the floral displays begin to rumble by.

Each float has been designed since the previous parade. Its concept is approved in February based upon the designated theme for that next parade. Designers budget their costs based on construction techniques/costs, floral coverings and use of paid or volunteer decorators. Corporate sponsors are mated with designers and the full circle begins anew.

Sierra Madre Float Association (annual City Float)

Each vehicle (float) must be able to travel at mandated speeds and be able to drop to a restricted height as it passes underneath highway I-120.  On parade day, this height is checked by laser beam twice before the float enters the underpass lest it block and/or delay the parade. This height test is checked several times by the float construction regulators during the build to

From Concept to Completion

ensure the raising and lowering is within time specs, is consistent and flawless. They are checked after initial build, after the installation of base material (usually wire and foam) has been applied and, again, once lined up for pre-parade judging.

Internal construction and Hydralics

The length and width mandates are constantly   float travel along the route. Fire extinguishers are aboard and float handlers escorting the vehicle are in radio contact with the driver to help ease the difficult turns.
being pushed to the limits by designers. Further
rules involve the driver having clear lines of sight supplemented by video cameras to ensure safe operation and handling as it follows the famous red line of

All floats are classified A, B, or C. Should the drive mechanism break down, they have less than a minute to get it going or the appropriate sized tow vehicle (A, B, or C) will be connected and continue…well out of TV camera range, of course. The tow vehicles are waiting in the wings, just out of sight but never out of mind all along the parade route. Along with ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles, the emergency responders are present but nicely hidden.

Decoration Team working on Public Storage's "Adventures in Space"

Anyone who has watched the parade knows most of the restrictions regarding the floats’ coverings. They must be vegetable, natural or floral.

Four foot high adornment

Everything from exotic plants, pampas grasses, coconut, cranberries and a multitude of others must be applied to the entire visible surfaces. Five different glues are used as necessary. Both volunteers and paid workers painstakingly apply the decorative touches in common “float barns”.

The results are unbelievable and like many things, seeing it in person gives you a whole new appreciation of the massive commitment required for this two hour parade. It’s quite a way to celebrate the start of a new beginning….to a very new year.

                HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Part of the Mayors Unit 1909 Seagrave Pumper 
owned by Pasadena Fire Deptartment

UP NEXT:   After the Parade passes you by.