The South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was honored to learn that the 2027 Tournament of Roses Parade theme, “Welcome,” has a connection to South Pasadena. Hand-picked by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association’s new president, Terry Madigan, and unveiled on January 15, 2026, the 2027 theme was inspired by Madigan’s first experience volunteering for the Rose Parade as a student at South Pasadena High School.
“Welcome,” the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association explains in its official theme announcement, celebrates the simple joy of belonging—that feeling that you’re always welcome, no matter who or where you are. It’s the warmth of family—whether related or chosen, the love of good friends, and the welcoming embrace of community. It’s being seen, valued, and heard, just for being you.
Madigan grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and was new to South Pasadena when he volunteered for SPTOR, driving South Pasadena’s float in the 1981 and 1982 Rose Parades. According to an interview following the theme announcement, Madigan was looking for a chosen family and found it volunteering for South Pasadena’s float. “The core of what I know about leadership and leading a volunteer organization, I learned at 15 on that South Pas float, so I think that’s a bit of a different perspective,” Madigan shared, “I kind of came up from that part of the parade, rather than coming as a business executive in town, it really grew out of that love for the parade that goes back 46 years.” Madigan currently lives in South Pasadena with his husband, Kevin Sommerfield.
Help Us Bring “Welcome” to Life
The South Pasadena Tournament of Roses committee continues to welcome new volunteers to join them in continuing the city’s longest community tradition. Community members are invited to submit design sketches that reflect the simple joy of belonging and knowing that you’re always “Welcome.” Each sketch must be black and white, in pencil or pen, on paper no larger than 8.5” X 11”. At this “concept” stage, a simple pencil drawing will suffice, and submissions may include a short, written description of the drawing and what the submitter is trying to express. Design submissions must be submitted by Wednesday, February 6, 2026, at 5 pm. For more information, please visit sptor.org.
DOWNLOAD FLOAT DESIGN ENTRY FORM
