South Pasadena Tournament of Roses | Last Call for Raffle Tickets

Last call to win tickets to the 2023 Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl Game or cash by purchasing a raffle ticket in support of the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

PHOTO: SPTOR | South Pasadenan.com News | Alan Vlacich holding raffle tickets for the SPTOR Ultimate Tournament of Roses Experience.

There’s still time to enter a special drawing, but time is quickly running out.

Three lucky winners could either be going to the 2023 Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl Game or win a cash award by making a donation for a raffle ticket in support of the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses (SPTOR) Committee.

It’s called the Ultimate Tournament of Roses Experience, one of the organization’s key fundraisers to help defray costs for building and decorating the city’s float in the parade down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard in January.

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The winners will be drawn during Wednesday’s City Council meeting at South Pasadena City Hall. Participants do not need to be present to win.

SPTOR officials are encouraging community members to take part in the annual raffle that could make kicking off the new year extra special.

Alan Vlacich, a longtime committee member with SPTOR, is selling the raffle tickets for $100 apiece and the first prizewinner in the drawing will receive four tickets to the Rose Bowl Game on Monday, January 2, 2023 between the 40 and 50-yard lines. Second place will receive four VIP Rose Parade tickets in the reviewing stand. Third place earns $300 in cash.

The Tournament of Roses has a never on Sunday rule, so when the parade and game falls on that day they will be played on Monday.

“Donations help our committee raise funds for our city float in the Rose Parade,” explained Vlacich. “It’s one of a number of fundraisers we hold throughout the year to generate enough funds to pay for cost associated with our entry.”

Volunteers are working two nights a week and on weekends, ensuring the city’s float – “Spark of Imagination” – will be set to roll down the parade route. Highlighting the imagination of children, but using mice, it depicts winners of a science fair with plenty of fun craziness, spinning cranks and gears on board.

PHOTO: SPTOR | South Pasadenan.com News | SPTOR’s float design for the 2023 Rose Parade

Proudly, Dunlap points out that South Pasadena’s float is the oldest in the parade. It also is the longest running self-built, meaning it’s among six constructed by entirely by volunteers, not commercial builders.

Annually, it costs about $100,000 in flowers and materials to create the floral masterpiece, according to SPTOR President Brant Dunlap.

The drawing will take place during an upcoming South Pasadena City Council meeting.

Only 200 tickets are being sold with the idea of raising $20,000 for the city float in the next Rose Parade.

Vlacich is busy with the local float committee, not only in his efforts with the raffle, but serving as co-chair of an annual golf tournament and his role as nominating chair for incoming board members.

To purchase a raffle ticket, call Vlacich at (626) 233-5570 or contact him at avlacich@gmail.com