2022 Rose Parade a Go? | High Probability Gives Float Builders Motivation

Announcement that 20 bands can start fundraising for the 2022 event is welcome news to South Pasadena float builders

PHOTO: SouthPasadenan.com News

Tournament of Roses officials announced last week the 20 bands slated to be a part of the pageantry in the next scheduled Rose Parade on January 1, 2022.

That’s welcome to news to Brant Dunlap, the chairperson overseeing South Pasadena’s float entry in the long established event. He’s hopeful the show will go on, not cancelled like it was this year as a result of the coronavirus.

All indications are the parade is on target to kick off the new year, even if it might be a modified version.

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The same group of experts who confided with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena last year that led to pausing the 2021 parade have given the green light to at least start a plan for 2022,” said Dunlap when ask the status of the next event. “We have been cautioned that the parade and its surrounding environment may have a different feel and look. That Simply means masks and social distancing pose a strong likelihood going into 2022.”

Yet, Dunlap will take it – a parade in any form – knowing he and his construction crew have an opportunity to put the city’s float – “Sky’s the Limit” – at the starting area for its 5 ½-mile journey down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard.

“At this point we are starting to finish cleaning our float’s chassis from 2019, organize our storage containers, finalize a color rendition and find out how many of our crew can start up slowly with local health guidelines in place,” the SPTOR chair explained.

Dunlap, like others, recognizes it’s an encouraging sign that life is getting somewhat back to normal with word coming out of the Tournament House that the 2022 parade will feature bands originally slated for the 2021 spectacle. Participants have been asked to start their fundraising efforts in anticipation to the 133rd Rose Parade themed “Dream. Believe. Achieve.”

I think it’s great that there will be bands from four different countries and multiple states from the United States,” Dunlap said. “For those participants to be able to plan and travel at this time is great news.”

As millions of television viewers and thousands more along the parade route look on, bands from across the United States and around the world, including Italy, Japan, Panama and Sweden, will enjoy the unique experience. Eight new bands will join several others that have been part of the parade for decades. Together with a mix of floats and equestrian units it all makes for a festive day.

“City as well as family tradition,” answered Dunlap, when asked why South Pasadena’s float is so meaningful to him. “The city has been participating with an entry since 1910 making our entry the oldest in the parade. Two years ago when my granddaughter seeded for the first time she represented the 4th generation of our family that has worked on the float.”

Dunlap and his SPTOR Committee members are working diligently to get the usual assortment of fundraising events back on track this year, starting with a golf tournament during the summer, followed by a classic car show along Mission Street in late September, and a year-end dinner/silent and live auction Crunch Time Party at the War Memorial Building. To date, the organization has held two successful See’s Candies fundraisers.

Over the years with the cost of steel and flowers the price tag on the city’s float ranges from $80,000 to $100,000, but no labor costs are absorbed because the float is constructed entirely by volunteers.   

Help from the community is always sought, stressed Dunlap, noting that a variety of opportunities are available.

“We need individuals in both construction and decorating the float,” he said, adding: “We’re starting work on the float now and could use really some help.”

For more information, go to www.sptor.org or email Dunlap directly at president@sptor.org to lend a hand.