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Once completed, the highest amount ever will be spent on the City of South Pasadena’s float over its long history of participating in the Rose Parade.
That’s the word coming from Brant Dunlap, the president of the organization responsible for it being built.
“As you know the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee works hard year-round to fund our float to send it down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena January 1st every year since 1893,” said Dunlap in an email.
He pointed out that floral and steel costs have skyrocketed for various reasons, causing the 2022 entry to be the priciest to date. The float’s construction and decoration chairs, Joss Rogers and Janet Benjamin, respectively, say with everything costing so much more these days, South Pasadena is looking at spending about $150,000 versus $100,000 for its previous entry.
A major fundraiser, hosted by SPTOR, is approaching to help absorb the weight of the hefty bill.
A traditional community favorite, the live Crunch Time Party returns after a year’s hiatus on December 29 at 6 p.m. at the War Memorial Building, featuring a dinner and silent/live auction. For more information and tickets to the party, contact Ellen Torres at etphonhome@aol.com or crunchparty@sptor.org. Tickets are $60 apiece.
“However, we will only have half the normal attendees by design for a better sense of safety,” explained Dunlap, referring to the pandemic. “Due to this, we have decided to put together another online Crunch Time auction like we had last December and for our 2021 golf tournament.”
For those not attending the live Crunch Time event, an online auction with a large assortment of items will also be held from December 27 at 12 a.m. to December 30 at 8 p.m. in support of the float. Go to auctria.com/auction/sptorcrunchtime to get on board.
“All of your support in the past makes our float a success every year,” said Dunlap. “I’d love to ask for you to just donate money but what I’m really asking of you is to view the auction, share it with friends and family and then if you feel like it, register, bid and have some fun. You do not have to register to view items, only to bid.”
South Pasadena’s float, “Sky’s the Limit,” features five ostriches, including one – towering over the others wearing a Jetpack, leather helmet, scarf and goggles – blasting off from a snow-covered mountaintop. Dunlap is hopeful with its whimsical design and the thousands of hours poured into by dedicated volunteers, that it could win another award, joining the two it earned from the Tournament of Roses for its floats in 2019 (“Three Little Birds”) and 2020 (“Victory at Last.”)
He realizes it couldn’t happen without those who put their heart and soul into its creation each year.
“Thanks for your dedication and continued support towards SPTOR,” Dunlap concluded in a message to the community seeking financial help for the city float. “Happy holidays to you and your family.”
For more information about the parade and how to contribute, go to sptor.org.
