Rose Parade Crunch Time Party | Tickets on Sale Now

Proceeds from the event, presented by the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee, pays for steel and flowers, the two main components necessary to create the city’s floral masterpiece in the 2020 Rose Parade

PHOTO: Eric Fabbro | SouthPasadenan.com News | South Pasadena Tournament of Roses (SPTOR) float entry, "Victory at Last"

Work crews are busy putting in long hours on South Pasadena’s float that soon will set sail down Colorado Boulevard in the 2020 Rose Parade.

While volunteers go about preparing the city’s entry – “Victory at Last” – for the New Year’s Day spectacle, others are diligently working behind the scenes setting the stage for the float’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

PHOTO: Esteban Lopez | SouthPasadenan.com News | South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee members working on the 2020 Rose Parade float, ‘Victory at Last’

After all, self-built floats like the one the city turns out each year don’t come cheap when it calls to paying for steel and flowers, the main components that go into creating the annual floral masterpiece.

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The South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee hosts a series of events throughout the year to pay for the float, which officials say costs in the upwards of $100,000 before it heads out for the starting line on Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena during the nighttime hours of New Year’s Eve.

PHOTO: Eric Fabbro | SouthPasadenan.com News | 4th of July Parade, Festival of Balloons 2019. South Pasadena TOR Rose Parade Float Chassis

Only two days earlier, Sunday, December 29, the committee will raise a major part of the necessary funds to defray the float’s construction costs when it holds its 23rd annual Crunch Time Party at the War Memorial Building on Fair Oaks Avenue.

Following tradition, the event, slated from 6 to 10 p.m., will include dinner, a raffle, and silent and live auctions. Proceeds go directly to the City of South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee.

SPTOR President Courtney Dunlap is encouraged, saying everything seems to be falling into place for the big bash. “We’re getting a lot of our usual silent and live auction items in,” she explained. “We’re looking forward to another successful event, and hopefully we’ll sell out again. Our goal is to sell all 20 tables like we did last year.”

PHOTO: Bill Glazier | SouthPasadenan.com News | South Pasadena Tournament of Roses President Courtney Dunlap presented a framed picture of South Pasadena 2019 award-winning “Three Little Birds” float during the June 19 South Pasadena City Council meeting

A year ago, through ticket sales, sponsorships, and the two auctions, the event generated just under of $38,000.

“We’re looking forward to another great event,” said the local float president, who would like to get close to that figure again in her second and final year in guiding the organization. “That’s a lot of money, and we really appreciate the support of the community.”

Crunch Time Party tickets are $50 per person or tables of 10 are $450. They can be purchased at the souvenir booth on the float site behind the War Memorial Building, 435 Fair Oaks Avenue, or through Ellen Torres at etphonhom@aol.com

PHOTO: Esteban Lopez | SouthPasadenan.com News | 4th of July Parade, Festival of Balloons 2019. South Pasadena TOR Rose Parade Float Chassis