South Pasadena’s float rendering “Seas the Day” (Photo – SPTOR)
The South Pasadena Tournament of Roses (SPTOR) committee is hard at work bringing its entry in the 2025 Rose Parade presented by Honda to life.
By News Desk
Construction and fundraising efforts for the South Pasadena Rose Parade float are in full swing. “We’ve reached all the ‘all hands-on deck’ portion of the journey,” said Ed Donnelly, SPTOR President. “With the tent up at the float site, we’re now at the point where the committee is simultaneously building the frame, sourcing flowers and natural materials to decorate it, and fundraising to pay for it all.”
Being built by volunteers under a tent adjacent to the War Memorial Building, the city’s 2025 float entry features three aquatic animals riding on a boat sailing into new adventures. Titled “Seas the Day,” the design reflects the committee’s idea of the “Best Day Ever,” the overall theme of the 2025 Rose Parade. “Seas the Day” will roll down Colorado Boulevard on January 1, 2025 playing Styx’s iconic song “Come Sail Away.”
Designed by Renee Hoss-Johnson, the float’s rendering depicts a boat with a sea turtle at the bow, a bike-riding frog at the stern, and a duck at the wheel, making waves on a sea of blue. “That’s a lot of blue,” explained Chris Metcalf, the committee’s floral designer who is responsible for bringing the design to life within the Rose Parade®’s strict guidelines on using natural materials.
“Blue is typically challenging to incorporate because there are few floral options, but we were always confident we’d rise to the challenge, and we have,” said Metcalf. “SPTOR has already ordered 1,000 bunches of BluOcean chrysanthemums to depict the gentle motion of a leisurely sail. The flowers will be flown in from Japan days before Christmas,” Metcalf continued.
BluOcean chrysanthemums arriving from Japan days before Christmas (Photo – SPTOR)
In addition to the hours of volunteer labor required to construct the City’s completely self-built float, the committee works year-round to raise $150,000 to purchase flowers and construction materials. To date, the committee has hosted a “Cuatro de Mayo” fiesta, a yard sale at the War Memorial Building, a golf tournament on Father’s Day weekend, lawn sign sales, and a dunk tank on the Fourth of July. Local businesses have sponsored banners hanging in the tent at the build site, and the committee is selling souvenirs through its website and at a souvenir stand at the float site. Tickets for SPTOR’s annual raffle went on sale August 10th. Only 250 $100 tickets will be sold for the chance to win three prizes: 1st Prize: 4 tickets to the 2025 Rose Bowl Game, 2nd Prize: 4 VIP Parade Tickets in the viewing section on Orange Grove Boulevard, and 3rd Prize: $300 cash. Fundraising continues in the fall with SPTOR’s annual direct mail appeal for donations, a See’s Candy Sale in November, and the annual Crunch Time Party and Crunch Time Silent Auction in December.
Volunteers
Next, the committee will recruit volunteer builders and decorators. To inquire about volunteering on the construction crew, email construction@sptor.org. Signups for the “deco” (decoration) squad begin September 15, 2024. Visit sptor.org for more information.
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