Rose Float Timeline

Participants are needed year-round to help build, design, and decorate the float. Explore the timeline of the only student-built float at the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Year At-A-Glance

January & February

  • Parade float moves back to Pomona.
  • Deconstruction begins.
  • Begin leadership recruitment for the new year.
  • Concept Contest held for ideas for next year’s float.
  • Tournament of Roses theme draft held.
  • Annual banquet.

March & April

  • Joint design meetings held with Pomona.
  • Complete mechanical and artistic scale drawings.
  • Participate in annual Cal Poly Open House.
  • Begin float construction.

May—September

  • Flower fields planting and harvesting.
  • Annual joint retreat.
  • Annual alumni barbecue.

October

  • Float construction: complete animation mechanisms, shaping.
  • Flower fields harvesting.
  • San Luis Obispo half of the float moves down to Pomona.

November

  • Float construction: shaping, foaming, and cocooning.
  • First technical inspection by the Tournament of Roses.

December

  • Final float construction including painting, carving foam, and final shaping.
  • Second technical inspection by the Tournament of Roses.
  • Move float from Pomona to Pasadena.
  • Float decoration week.

Get Involved

Keep the tradition alive! Learn more about the ways that you can get involved in the Rose Float experience.

 

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