By Jannelle Dang

Features Editor

  As a new year of change and opportunities approaches, old traditions like the Rose Parade will be there to help usher in 2018. The celebration brings families and friends together, but its magic would not be the same without the intricate, creative floats that make their procession down Colorado Boulevard every year.

  The theme of the 129th Rose Parade is “Making a Difference.” From hundreds of applications, the Tournament of Roses Executive Committee selected 39 organizations that get to sponsor and design a float in the parade. Each company chose one float builder to collaborate with and bring their vision to life. The four float builders for this year’s event are Artistic Entertainment Services, Fiesta Parade Floats, Paradiso Parade Floats, and Phoenix Decorating Company.

  Alongside these displays will be one float for the Royal Court, and another for the two teams that will play in the Rose Bowl Game.

  Almost as soon as the previous year’s parade finishes, preparation for the next one begins. Each float begins with a steel and chicken wire framework, which is covered in polyvinyl material and then decorated with flowers, seeds, leaves, and other natural materials.

  Hundreds of volunteers are needed to put these complex structures together. Students of Gabrielino High School’s Key Club were among those who dedicated eight hours towards decorating floats at the Phoenix Decorating Company on the first volunteer date, Dec. 2. Some volunteers were chosen to work in teams on specific displays under the direction of each float’s builder. Meanwhile, all other hands were needed on deck to trim thousands of flowers to an appropriate small size.

  “Even though there were times that got boring, it was still fun [because] it was also a time to socialize,” stated senior Kyle Go, the Secretary of Key Club. “You got to sit next to your friends […] and make new friends that came from all different places.”

  Volunteers will be welcome to participate in float decorating every Saturday for the rest of the month, whether they are individuals of the community or members of an organization.

  After the parade, floats will be on display on Jan. 1-2 on Sierra Madre Boulevard and Washington Boulevard so people can view them up close if they missed the parade. The entire exhibit of floats, called the Post Parade, is two miles long. The float builders and Rose Parade officials will be present to interact with members of the community, answer questions, and provide extra insight on the structures.