How to Get Involved

Home-Brew Float Making Competition

Cal Poly Rose Float is hosting a virtual float making competition! The competition will follow the traditional progression of building a float: you’ll design, construct, and decorate the piece you choose to make. Build your float using traditional household items such as paperclips, plastic containers, paper, fabric, and any other materials you have.

Join the final workshop on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. on Zoom to learn more and see the floats participants have been creating all quarter!

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Crafting supplies on a table

Concept Contest

The concept contest for the 2021 Tournament of Roses Parade is currently closed. The theme for the 2021 float is DREAM. BELIEVE. ACHIEVE. A celebration of education’s ability to open doors, open minds, and change lives.

rose parade float by cal poly

Donations

Keep the tradition alive by being a Cal Poly Rose Float donor! Material and financial donations from businesses, alumni, family, and supporters allow this student-built float to compete with professionally built floats at a fraction of the budget.

Rose Float is currently seeking the following material donations:

 

  • Steel box tubes: 1×1, 2×2, 2×3, 2×4, 3×3, 4×4
  • Angle iron
  • Angle grinders
  • Plate steel
  • Steel pencil rod
  • Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) electrodes: 6013, 7018
  • Cutoff and grinding wheels
  • Carving foam
  • Meals for 60+ volunteers during fall quarter
  • Meals for 100+ volunteers during Deco Week
  • Paint
  • Office projector
  • Aluminum screen
  • Plywood or oriented strand board (OSB)
  • Spices and seeds
  • Permanent markers
photo of a cal poly student with flowers for the cal poly rose float

Make a Gift

Gifts to support the general operation of the Cal Poly Rose Float program can be made online through Cal Poly Giving. To specify your gift to Rose Float please indicate “Cal Poly Rose Float” in the “Other” category.

Associated Students, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit corporation, all gifts are tax deductible.

 

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Student Involvement

Students of all majors and levels of experience are encouraged to get involved. Volunteers are needed year-round to help build, design, and decorate the float.

 

  • Sculpting
  • Hydraulics
  • Marketing
  • Engine work
  • Event planning
  • Artistic design
  • Welding
  • Business
  • Construction
  • Cooking
  • Agriculture
  • Decorations
  • Horticulture
  • Architecture
  • Electronics
student painting the cal poly rose float

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Contact Information

GENERAL CONTACT

Rose Float Lab

JOSH D'ACQUISTO

Coordinator - Rose Float