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All you ever wanted to know about floats in the Pasadena Rose Parade!

You know - the big parade in sunny Southern California!  The one that happens each New Year's Morning!

From a self-built float point of view.

The What?

That's the response I get from most people when I say, "I'm the Decorations Chair for the LaCanada Tournament of Roses Parade Association."

"The What?"

Answer:  You know the big Tournament of Roses Parade that takes place in Pasadena (Southern California) each New Year's morning?  Hopefully you're nodding your head "yes" by now.

Well, the LaCanada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association (LCF TRA for short) enters one of the six self-built floats in the parade.

"Self-built" - What's that?  "Self-built" means that we are a 100% volunteer organization.  We are not a professional float builder nor does our float does not have a corporate sponsor. 

Why?  Because we love it.  Because its fun.  Because, for me, I think of "float" as my second family.  They are simply the best people I am privileged to know.

Check out our website:  www.lcftra.org.

I'll add pictures as soon as I can figure out how!

Deco Chair

This is another introduction, information article.  Actual updates on current float happenings and my thoughts and frustrations as we go along will be coming later.

First, a bit of background:  I grew up a quick walk away from the float site.  Every year my Dad and I would walk down in the evenings to see how the float was coming along.  I wanted to work on it more than anything but, the minimum age for volunteers is 13.  The year I was 12, with my 13th birthday being just a couple of months away in February was a tough one!

The next year, I was so excited!  I was there early for my first shift on Dec. 26 at 6:00 p.m.

I've been in that same parking lot where the float is decorated every single year since.  I've given up trips and turned down jobs that wouldn't give me the necessary week (and now two weeks) off.

For the past eight or so years (maybe more), my husband (yep, met him at float) and I have been "Head Decorators".  No, we don't just decorate heads!  As such, it is our job to deliver a fully decorated float, ready for the parade route, on the evening of Dec. 31.

What does that involve?  It is our job to decide what order to decorate the float in, when to begin putting on live flowers, and then to instruct the volunteers in decoration.  Every day, three times a day, we are met with a group of volunteers ranging in age from 13 on up.  The groups can number between 20 and 100 people.  We divide them into small groups, explain their tasks, teach decorating techniques, oversee quality, solve problems, and try to have a cup of coffee or eat a doughnut now and then.

I've walked 12 miles a day, around the float, in the parking lot.

Last year, "they", being the Board, gave me the Board position of Decoration Chair (Deco Chair for short).  Now, in addition to the above, I'm responsible for final color and material decisions for the entire float.  I also have to find and order all the materials.  Whew.  Its exhausting, frustrating, maddening, and will make me absolutely crazy come late November. 

I wouldn't trade it for anything.