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It is completely volunteer-driven, relying on the community for both monetary and physical support, which is something never forgotten by those like Ed Donnelly.
“We have a core group that helps us throughout the year on our float, but without the many who help us at the end, we wouldn’t get this thing done,” explained Donnelly, who oversees the construction and decorating as chair of the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee (SPTOR).
He’s among those simply amazed by the turnout of so many who chip in to apply natural products, materials and thousands of flowers to the city’s entry in the days leading up to Pasadena’s annual Rose Parade.
Notably, around the South Pasadena float site this time of year when volunteers are working at a feverish pace, it’s called “crunch time,” those critical hours and minutes leading up to the deadline to complete the task.
“The tradition in South Pasadena is that we’re 100 percent volunteer built and 100 percent funded, too,” noted Donnelly. “So, those not participating, physically putting on flowers, building a character or doing some sort of construction or decoration are helping us by making donations. It’s just as important. The cliché is ‘It takes a village,’ but what it really takes is a city, the City of South Pasadena, to get this float built.”
A giant work tent in the backside of the War Memorial Building in the 400 block of Fair Oaks Avenue is where many are converging this week, lending a hand to ensure the city’s entry – “Boogie Fever” – is ready to roll down Colorado Boulevard for the New Year’s Day spectacle. It is there that the original float design concept by Anne Mueller and enhanced by artist Renee Hoss-Johnson is coming to life. On board, a giraffe, snake, toucan, elephant, and orangutan are playfully enjoying the sounds of “Boogie Fever,” a lively 1970s disco hit made famous by the Sylvers, adding significantly to the parade’s overall theme of “A World of Music.”
Along with dozens of flowers, the workforce behind the effort has effectively used buffalo grass, white mums, eucalyptus bark, silver leaf, seaweed, Ming moss, oat bran, cinnamon and other materials to give the characters a realistic look.
“It’s really progressing really well,” said an admiring Evelyn Zneimer, South Pasadena’s mayor, who is also contributing her time working on the float. “It’s full on from December 26th to the 31st to finish it. We’re going to pull a couple of all-nighters to get it done.”
Over the years, noted the mayor, every state in the country, with the exception of Alaska, has been represented with float volunteers.
“It brings a lot of positivity,” said Zneimer, when asked what the float does for South Pasadena’s image. “Our city is full of diversity, and music being the universal language, unites everyone.”
Among those contributing her time on the float this week was Yolanda Rodriguez, a South Pasadena resident, saying it was “great to be part of this,” after completing a volunteer shift, which included some painting and unloading flowers that had just arrived. “It has really been a group and team effort. I’ve been coming to the Rose Parade since I was little. I knew that it is a volunteer-only float, so I wanted to be a part of it. So I joined in this year, and I’m glad I did.”
Leland Glauz, who enjoys the tradition of being around flowers and other volunteers this time of year, has been donating his time to the city entry for 17 years. “It’s kind of in my blood to work on the float,” he said. “It’s like a second family to me.”
The community effort, watching people come together and build the float every year, is what keeps Clauz coming back, giving him joy.
Longtime volunteer James Jontz, serves on the SPTOR committee holding two roles – event site chair, meaning he oversees the circus-like tent during the float’s construction and decorating, and is the design chair, working behind the scenes to make sure a concept is selected upon it being built.
Back in January when the “Boogie Fever” design was chosen, Jontz expressed his concern, saying it would be a challenge to sculpt all the animals on the float. “But looking at them today, they came out amazing,” he said. “We had a couple of key people who helped us, and we couldn’t have pulled this off without them. Their help was just tremendous. It took us a little longer than expected, but the animal characters look great!”
Jontz, who has been a part of the float experience for about 30 years, said plans are already in the works for the 2025 Rose Parade as Tournament of Roses officials have unleashed a hint for next year’s theme – “Important Life Moments.”
A design idea from the City of South Pasadena for the parade more than a year away is due by mid February, 2025.
Thousands will take in the parade watching from the sidelines, many spending the night along Colorado Boulevard covered in blankets and in sleeping bags, while millions more around the world will view the floral masterpieces on television.
Before that happens, Donnelly, SPTOR committee members and a multitude of volunteers must do their magic of getting the float prepared for final judging at 7 a.m. on December 31 when Tournament of Roses officials arrive at the float site to inspect the float before awards are announced just hours prior to the parade’s 8 a.m. start on January 1.
South Pasadena’s float – the oldest of six self-builts in the parade – has won its share of awards in recent years and hopes to earn another come Monday.
Help on the float down the stretch not only comes locally, but from some around the country, as many volunteers make it a bucket list item to work on a Rose Parade float.
“They will take part in a shift or two, and it gives them a sense of pride, to see their work on display,” Donnelly said.
It won’t be long before he and others will be able to exhale with a big “whew,” knowing the job is done, and another float is in the books.
“Without the hundreds of volunteers helping us at the end, nothing happens,” the SPTOR chair assured. “We absolutely rely on them and are grateful as we possibly can be that they would spend their time and energy to help get it finished.”
Get involved by donating, becoming a sponsor, bidding on the online auction, submit a design for next year’s float, volunteer and show your South Pas pride at SPTOR.ORG
