What makes the six self-built floats of the 2024 Rose Parade, err, different from the rest?
Well, there are no corporate sponsors. This classification means these floats are financed, constructed and decorated completely by volunteers. Usually, the float design is the brain child of a local resident. Oh, let’s not forget fundraising, a key aspect of the home-grown, self-built floats.
In short, these six are not built by commercial float builders as are all the other floats in the parade.
When the self-builts glide down 5 1/2 miles of Colorado Boulevard on Jan. 1, bedecked in roses, carnations, mums and you name it, they may not appear that different from the commercially built floats. But there are notable nuggets that make these so-called legacy floats stand out. And some of the volunteers have stories to tell:
• Burbank Tournament of Roses Association — “Caterpillar Melody:” The name says it all. The float features an oversized caterpillar ready to take flight, stopping before its metamorphosis to first play a song on a harp, entertaining nearby butterflies and wildflowers.
The group has been participating in the Rose Parade for 91 years. Designs are accepted from all over the country. The winning design is voted on by the Association.
The community gets to see the transition from pods with wire mesh to a floating 3-D floral display. A few weeks ago, the builders took the bare bones float out for a test drive on Flower Street. They performed the required fire drill where everyone has to leave the float in 45 seconds, said Jon Reeves, a volunteer.
Make no mistake, even these self-built float nonprofits go all out to get the best flowers, materials and erect the most noteworthy mechanical critters that make their designs come to life.
Of the 40,000 flowers covering this float, the musical notes around the “City of Burbank” sign will be adorned with 9,000 burgundy baccara roses tinged in black and imported from Ecuador, said Linda Cozakos,…
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