How to Build a Float for the Rose Parade
Rose Parade floats are elaborate contraptions entirely covered by flowers. Float building is generally done by professional float builders although there are a few floats each year built by volunteers. The first Rose Parade Tournament of Roses was held in 1890 by Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club residents to show off the mild winter weather in their new southern homes. Over the years, this parade has grown to include high-tech, motorized floats covered with exotic flowers from around the world.
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Things You'll Need
- Motorized chassis
- Foam
- Wood
- Steel
- Hydraulics (optional)
- Electronics (optional)
- Aluminum screening
- Polvinyl spray
- Paint
- Plants
Instructions
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1
Submit sketches of your proposed Rose Parade Float after the theme of the next parade has been announced. Concept drawings have to be approved by the Tournament of Roses Association parade committee. Two design concepts are allowed per builder.
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2
Calculate the weight when choosing your supplies. The entire structure will triple in weight if it rains during the parade. Also remember that all floats need to be under 17 feet high since the parade route takes them under a concrete bridge. If your float is taller than this, it will need to be able to hydaulically collapse in less than 25 seconds so that it will fit without delaying the parade.
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3
Install steel supports, welding the framework to the chassis. Connect the hydraulic and electrical components. Take it for a test drive to ensure all the pieces work before proceeding.
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4
Mold aluminum wire screen around the shape of the steel supports to form each part of the float. Once the screen is firmly in place, spray with a polyvinyl plastic liquid, also known as "cocooning the float components."
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5
Paint the hardened polyvinyl shell to match the colors of the flowers which will be added later. This helps the decorating crew place the flowers in the correct spots and also prevents noticeable bare spots if a flower accidentally falls off the float. Scaffolding may need to be erecterd around the float in order to reach all the components.
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Consult with a floral coordinator to determine the best materials for the float. Designers can help choose colors and textures that will work well together and create a visual impact even at a distance, or during the rain. Floral experts can also help choose less-costly substitutes.
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7
Add flowers to the float. Generally the heads will be popped off and then glued directly on the float. Delicate flowers are sometimes placed in water-filled vials and then pushed into the float surface. On average a Rose Parade float takes 10,000 pounds of flowers to fill. Gather several helpers since decorating can take around 7,000 person-hours to complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Rose Parade floats are judged during construction on December 30th and then again on December 31 when all the animations and sound systems are fully functional.
They are judged a final time on January 1st as they pass through the starting gate.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ciaran Griffin/Lifesize/Getty Images
