The membership selected "An Unlikely Tale" (working title) as their number one choice.  This design was submitted by Jonathan Friday from Burbank, CA.

This is Jonathan's first time winning the Burbank Rose Float Design Contest.

It should be noted that the entire General Meeting was held online due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic which prevented us from meeting in person.

These drawings were released on April 20, 2020.

press release

PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES UNABLE TO HOST 2021 ROSE PARADE ON NEW YEAR’S DAY

With reluctance and tremendous disappointment, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association announces that, in accordance with Governor Newsom’s Phase IV re-opening schedule, and after thoughtful consideration of the restrictions and guidelines in place as a result of COVID-19, we are unable to host the 2021 Rose Parade.

“The health and well-being of our parade participants and guests, as well as that of our volunteer members, professional staff and partners, is our number one priority,” said Bob Miller, 2021 President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. “Obviously this is not what any of us wanted, and we held off on announcing until we were absolutely sure that safety restrictions would prevent us from continuing with planning for 132nd Rose Parade.”

Enjoyed by millions around the world, the Rose Parade is held each January 1 in celebration of the New Year. Since its inception in 1891, the Parade has not occurred only three times – the wartime years of 1942, 1943 and 1945.

While the parade itself is more than five months from now, the preparation for such a large event typically begins in February. “In addition to the advance planning required by our band and equestrian units, the construction of our floats takes many months and typically requires thousands of volunteers to gather in ways that aren’t in compliance with safety recommendations and won’t be safe in the coming months,” said David Eads, Executive Director/CEO. “While we are extremely disappointed that we are unable to host the parade, we believe that not doing so will prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as protect the legacy of the Rose Parade for generations to come.”

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association also hosts the Rose Bowl Game each January 1. The planning for this year’s Rose Bowl Game, which will serve as a College Football Playoff Semifinal, is still ongoing. “We continue to work with the College Football Playoff and our collegiate partners to explore what this year’s college football season will look like amidst COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines. While the safety and well-being of the student athletes, university personnel and fans is our top priority, we remain hopeful that the Granddaddy of Them All will take place on New Year’s Day,” continued Eads.

“I know that I speak on behalf of our 935 volunteer members, and the hundreds of thousands in our community for which the Rose Parade is an annual tradition, when I

say we will miss the joy of coming together and the making of memories,” said Miller. “But know that we will not miss this opportunity to celebrate a New Year and healthy new beginnings on January 1, 2021.”

“We all know what the Rose Parade means to us here in Pasadena, as well as to New Year celebrations around the world. To know that we won’t get to experience this great tradition on January 1, 2021, is extremely disappointing. However, we also know that we must act responsibly to protect our community in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek. “We look forward to working with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses on their reimagined New Year celebration, as well as the return of the Rose Parade on January 1, 2022.”

In considering the options for the 2021 Rose Parade, the Tournament of Roses commissioned a feasibility and safety report for hosting the Rose Parade during the COVID-19 Pandemic, conducted by public health experts from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. That report showed that even with intensive effort to ensure compliance with public health measures such as six-foot distancing and face masks, it is likely that Rose Parade activities before, during and after the event would inevitably lead to large numbers of individuals (many of whom represent high risk groups for COVID-19 complications, such as retirees over age 60) in close proximity to each other, potentially, in some cases, without masks. This creates a high-risk environment for viral spread, including super-spreader events. In addition, thousands of parade participants and spectators will travel to the Los Angeles region from across the nation and even the world, in many cases by plane. Such travel represents infection risk to the travelers, but also may lead to the importation of the virus to the area from other regions of the country and world as well as exportation of the virus to other regions of the nation and world when these spectators return home.

Although the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association will not be hosting its 132nd Rose Parade, they will celebrate the New Year on January 1, 2021. Working in conjunction with our broadcast partners and sponsors, the Tournament of Roses has plans underway for a new kind of New Year celebration for those across the country and around the world. “Each year, the country turns its eyes to Pasadena for America’s New Year celebration and we plan to deliver on that important promise,” said Eads. “We may not be able to host our traditional five-mile march down Colorado Boulevard, but we are exploring new and safe ways we can collectively share in the celebration, and we look forward to announcing further details about our exciting new plans in the coming weeks.”

press release

2021 THEME, FLOATS AND BANDS ROLLOVER TO 2022 ROSE PARADE

PASADENA, Calif. (Aug. 20, 2020) Last month, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® Association announced that, after thoughtful consideration and with state restrictions and guidelines in place as a result of COVID-19, we are unable to host the 2021 Rose Parade®.

In celebration of the New Year, the next Rose Parade is scheduled for Saturday, January 1, 2022 and will feature elements that were planned for the 2021 parade, including the theme “Dream. Believe. Achieve.” Bands that were selected to march in 2021 have been invited to participate in the 2022 Rose Parade and Bandfest. Floats that intended to roll down Colorado Blvd. this upcoming January 1 have been welcomed to join us in 2022. Equestrian units were in the application process and interested groups can apply next year. Decisions regarding the Royal Court and Rose Queen® are to be determined.

Also, the Board of Directors of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association approved amendments to the bylaws that will allow for the rollover of the Executive Committee, which includes President Bob Miller, who will remain the Association’s President for another year and will preside over the 2022 Rose Parade. All other members of the Executive Committee, including officers, vice presidents and at-large members, will maintain their current positions for the upcoming year and then resume their usual rotations in 2022 -2023 parade year.

Plans are underway for a reimagined America’s New Year Celebration® in 2021. We’re working in conjunction with our broadcast partners and sponsors and will announce a celebration with safe ways for those across the country and around the world to celebrate.

On October 29, 2020 the Pasadena Tournament of Roses announces a special 2-hour TV  program for New Year's Morning

press release

PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES® ANNOUNCES 2-HOUR TV ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL PRESENTED BY HONDA TO AIR
ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
AND BENEFIT FEEDING AMERICA®

Reimagined celebration of the New Year will feature stellar musical entertainment, celebrity guests, memorable past floats, marching band performances and more

PASADENA, Calif. (October 29, 2020) – Today the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® announced that it has partnered with six broadcasters to air a two-hour TV entertainment special on New Year’s Day. The show will air during the time slot traditionally reserved for live coverage of the Rose Parade® presented by Honda. The TV special – “The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration presented by Honda,” will feature a reimagined New Year celebration, including live-to-tape musical and marching band performances, heartwarming segments related to the Rose Parade, celebrity guest appearances, special Rose Bowl Game® football highlights, equestrians, spectacular floats from years past, a behind-the-scenes look into the making of a float – and you will have a chance to be part of the show.

“We are beyond excited about the upcoming New Year’s Day television special and the unique opportunity it gives us to not only entertain our worldwide audience in new and dynamic ways, but also honor the Rose Parade’s 130-year tradition,” said David Eads, executive director and CEO of the Tournament of Roses. “Each year, tens of millions across America and around the world invite us into their homes to celebrate the New Year, and this year will be no different. We may not be able to make our typical 5.5-mile march, but we are hosting a spectacular celebration nonetheless.”

For this unprecedented TV special, the Tournament of Roses is proud to partner with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to fighting domestic hunger through a nationwide network of food banks. “Food insecurity has been a focus of our organization’s efforts during the pandemic, so it was only fitting that we extend our commitment to our re-imagined New Year Celebration,” said Bob Miller, president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. “We are proud to work with Feeding America, an organization that is working to change lives in communities across the country.”

“Food banks are feeding an average of 60% more people due to the economic fallout of the pandemic,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “We are deeply grateful to the Tournament of Roses for helping to raise awareness and support for people facing hunger. Their generosity will help provide much needed meals for our most vulnerable neighbors.”

The entertainment special will also showcase seniors in high school and colleges from bands across the country, who will come together for a special, virtual performance of “Everything's Coming up Roses” led by a surprise conductor. “While we have invited all the bands who were scheduled to perform in this year’s parade to instead join us for the 2022 Rose Parade, we realize that there are many seniors who will graduate before that. We didn’t want them to miss out on this opportunity, so we’re giving them their very own, unique performance spotlight,” said Bob Miller.

This year’s TV special will air on ABC, Hallmark Channel, KTLA, NBC, RFD-TV and Univision at 8 a.m. PST on January 1, 2021. Details including the performance lineup, entertainment segments and celebrity appearances will be announced. Talent will be filmed in various states and cities throughout the country, including Pasadena. Anenwy footage filmed for the special meets COVID safety protocols outlined by the State of California and the Pasadena Health Department.

“The Rose Parade is a longstanding and central part of our New Year celebrations – not only here in Pasadena, but also around the world – and we are delighted that tradition will continue this year in a new, reimagined way.  We are excited to see how it comes to life on TV this year,” said Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek.

On December 8, 2020 the Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced the special performances for their TV broadcast on January 1st, 2021

press release

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AND CELEBRITY GUESTS ANNOUNCED
for “The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration presented by Honda” airing on January 1

PASADENA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2020) – Get ready to welcome the New Year with stars of the screen, stage and sports! Today the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® announced special performances and celebrity guests for “The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration presented by Honda,” airing with our six broadcast partners on New Year’s Day.

The reimagined celebration of the New Year will feature stellar musical entertainment and exciting celebrity guest appearances. For fans of country music, television, Broadway and sports, there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Musical performances:
• Sheryl Crow – Nine-time GRAMMY® Award winner with more than 50 million albums sold
• Mickey Guyton – Country singer-songwriter and historic GRAMMY® Award nominee
• Tori Kelly – Multi-GRAMMY® Award winner, singer-songwriter
• Lady A – Multi-platinum, seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winning country trio
• Rascal Flatts – The most awarded country group of the last decade
• The War and Treaty – Eclectic, soulful, husband-and-wife duo; one of Nashville’s breakout
acts

Celebrity guest appearances:
• Daddy Yankee – Multi award-winning singer, songwriter, actor and producer
• Shanola Hampton – Star of “Shameless” on Showtime
• Laurie Hernandez – Olympic gold and silver medalist, 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team
• Emeril Lagasse – Chef, restaurateur, TV personality and author
• Matt Leinart – 2019 Rose Bowl Hall of Fame inductee, former NFL player and Heisman Trophy winner
• Rita Moreno – Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Oscar® and Tony® (EGOT) award winner
• Dascha Polanco – Star of the Netflix hit “Orange is the New Black”
• Vin Scully – Voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers for more than 65 years
• Gary Sinise – Actor, philanthropist and 2018 Rose Parade Grand Marshal

Past Rose Parade Grand Marshals Emeril Lagasse and Gary Sinise will both be featured in the special. Gary will open the show and Emeril will shake us up with his favorite New Year’s Day cocktail.

“The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration presented by Honda” will also feature marching band performances, heartwarming segments related to the Rose Parade, special Rose Bowl Game® football highlights, equestrians, spectacular floats from years past, a behind-the-scenes look into the making of a float and New Year’s wishes from fans around the world.

The special will air on ABC, Hallmark Channel, KTLA, NBC and RFD-TV at 8 a.m. PST and on Univision at 7a.m. PST on January 1, 2021. In order to limit travel and ensure the safety of our talent, performance segments were filmed at iconic locations around the country, Grand Ole Opry and the Rose Bowl Stadium. To keep everyone safe, all new footage for the special was filmed using the strictest COVID safety protocols.

press release

PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES® ANNOUNCES

• • Cal Poly Universities – A behind-the-scenes look into the making of a float

• • City of Hope – Celebrating doctors, nurses, cancer survivors and new beginnings

• • Dole Packaged Foods – Highlighting its efforts to bring access to sustainable nutrition for 1 billion people by 2025

• • Donate Life – Presenting a floral sculpture to honor organ and tissue donors, as well as healthcare heroes who make the gift of life possible

• • FTD – Contributing their iconic floral décor in the Rose Parade for nearly 70 years

• • Honda – Celebrating more than 60 years of innovation and commitment to helping others

• • Kaiser Permanente – Honoring health care heroes and a healthy, thriving world

• • Trader Joe’s – Saluting store Crew Members who are nourishing their neighborhoods, every day

• • The UPS Store – Highlighting their dedication to literacy, providing children resources to read

The Tournament of Roses has partnered with six broadcasters to air the two-hour TV entertainment special on New Year’s Day. The show will air during the time slot traditionally reserved for live coverage of the Rose Parade® presented by Honda. The special will air on ABC, Hallmark Channel, KTLA, NBC and RFD-TV at 8 a.m. PST and on Univision at 7 a.m. PST on January 1, 2021. To keep everyone safe, all new footage for the special was filmed using the strictest COVID-19 safety protocols.

press release

PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES® ANNOUNCES
“THE ROSE PARADE’S NEW YEAR CELEBRATION PRESENTED BY Honda”
KERMIT THE FROG CONDUCTS SENIOR STUDENT BAND MEMBERS

PASADENA, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2020) – Today Kermit the Frog was announced as the celebrity conductor in “The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration presented by Honda.” Kermit will lead the virtual performance showcasing seniors in high school and college. The world’s most famous amphibian and international film and television star is no stranger to the Rose Parade®, having ridden down Colorado Blvd. as Grand Marshal on New Year’s Day 1996.

The segment will feature hundreds of students from bands across the country and from around the world who will come together for a special, virtual performance of “Everything's Coming up Roses." From Pennsylvania to San Diego and from Sweden to Panama, these students will be part of history as the first virtual performance in America’s New Year Celebration®.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® has invited all the bands who were scheduled to perform in the 2021 Rose Parade to join us for the 2022 Rose Parade. The many seniors who will graduate and not have the opportunity to perform on January 1 will have their very own, unique performance spotlight.

The music and choreography were sent to each school for preparation and rehearsal, and each student submitted a video of themselves performing. The musical arrangement and flag choreography for the routine was a collaborative effort between Kevin Sherrill (Band Director, Arcadia High School), Kyle Luck (Band Director, Pasadena City College), Joey Kidd (Drill Instructor, Arcadia High School) and the United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band.

The TV entertainment special – “The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration presented by Honda” – will also feature special musical performances, heartwarming segments related to the Rose Parade, special Rose Bowl Game® football highlights, equestrians, celebrity guests, spectacular floats from years past and New Year’s wishes from fans around the world.

The Tournament of Roses has partnered with six broadcasters to air a two-hour TV entertainment special on New Year’s Day. The show will air during the time slot traditionally reserved for live coverage of the Rose Parade® presented by Honda. The special will air on ABC, Hallmark Channel, KTLA, NBC and RFD-TV at 8 a.m. PST and on Univision at 7 a.m. PST on January 1, 2021. To keep everyone safe, all new footage for the special was filmed using the strictest COVID safety protocols.

The Board of Directors liked the knight option and wanted to try to incorporate it into the rendering 

In this version we left the helmet and gloves on.

Here are some of the Construction drawings...