In order for any float to be allowed in the Rose Parade, it must undergo three rounds of testing. (One in the float facility (MI) and two on the street, T1 & T2.)

LMU, Shriners Hospitals, RFD-TV, Wells Fargo, Lions Club, Kiwanis, Luthern, and the Rotary float were all rolling down the street and being tested for safety requirements by Tournament mechanics and officials.

All of the floats passed their 7AM tests with flying colors.

The road test drives are a blast not only for spectators but also the Phoenix Decorating crew. This is a time when they get to see how the float drives.

The Tournament mechanics and parade operation committee members are looking for more than 120 different items on each unique float to make sure that the floats are driving safely.

Inside the float facility, a mechanical inspection was being done on Trader Joe’s chassis. Engineers check out the engine prior to the metal sculpture being built.

Other interesting Phoenix Decorating Company tidbits:

• Phoenix Decorating creates more floats than any other builder in the parade.
• Our float facilities are the only two permanent float sites in Pasadena, CA.
• Photo and video opportunities are available year round with floats in each of the various stages of construction. Interviews can be arranged with designers, engineers, sculptors, art and floral directors.
• Join us and “Just Imagine…” what your coverage can be!

Strawflowers for Phoenix Decorating Co. floats are in full bloom. Harvest begins today!

Vibrant yellow strawflowers will be used on a number of floats.

They have the same texture that most flowers have after they’ve been drying for some time. It is mostly for this reason that strawflowers are used on the floats. Their color is long lasting and they hold up well in all types of conditions, which makes them perfect for parade time, rain or shine!

The petals are vivid in color too. This is why Floral Director Lyn Lofthouse calls for them to be used on every single one of our floats. They truly are the most striking flower provided by nature and come in a variety of colors: red, yellow, orange, pink, purple and creamy white.

On the floats the flowers actually look like they’ve been coated with a fine satin varnish. However, after our trip to the strawflower farm we see that the colorful blooms shimmering in the sun are all natural! No varnish here which means they are good to use on the floats!

The farm is boxing up more than 600,000 flowers right now and sending them our way!

Beyond the artistic nature of the sculpting being done is the name of the float. “The Power of Hope!” Just say it out loud. The theme unleashes positive thoughts instantly and to anyone who has seen first hand what the City of Hope does, these thoughts are twofold. Hope is something that unites people together. We are proud to be getting just a small glimpse into what the City of Hope does in attending to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the entire family as well as those of the patients who are there.

We are proud and honored to have this float being constructed in our float facility right now!

Construction is well underway, and after just a couple weeks we are still busy around the clock designing, bending, welding and engineering this float for the next parade. There’s something special about working on every float in our facility, but this one especially strikes a chord with each and everyone who walks into the facility. We can’t help but stop and think about what Donate Life’s float represents.

Inspired by floral clocks and clock towers from around the world, the 2012 Donate Life Rose Parade float will carry up to 28 donor family members, living donors, and transplant recipients. Six enormous floral timepieces will be adorned with 64 memorial “floragraphs” (floral portraits) of deceased donors whose gifts gave life and time to so many. A rose dedication garden honors more than 3,000 people worldwide; each rose will bear a vial with a personal message honoring a loved one.

Anchoring the float is a 30-foot clock tower with a sun/moon dial reminding us to make each passing day count. The hydraulics are being engineered to ensure that this float will travel down Colorado Blvd. safely.

I mean take a look at the City of Alhambra float. This picture was taken at 9:20am.

The float is in the cocoon stage and ready for paint.

I turned around and by 10:42am the bear’s face was completely detailed and painted. There was no one around. It was like it just magically appeared!

A number of shades of brown were used to give the bear his cute face!

In all seriousness, the art department takes a lot of time to make sure the floats are painted with just the right color.

In fact, five artists will apply more than 700 gallons of colorful paints to the floats before decoration begins.

The painted areas then act as a canvas for all of our decorators to use in covering the floats with colorful flowers and natural materials!

Here is the design for LMU. We’re very excited to be helping them celebrate 100 years in higher education.  Learn. Lead. Serve.

The university’s participation in the parade will serve as one of the cornerstone events of their yearlong Centennial Celebration and draw both national and international attention to LMU.

The Rose Parade has a total audience of approximately 40 million in the U.S. and is televised in 217 international territories.

Over the years, many entities have celebrated major anniversaries with floats in the Rose Parade. It will not be the first time the university has participated in the event as the Loyola University Band marched in the 1938 Rose Parade.

Funding for the float will come from private donations, and no university funds will be used for the fees or costs associated with building LMU’s float entry. Rather, alumni and friends of the university are being asked to fund the project through a variety of sponsorship opportunities.

This blog is the story of the Phoenix Decorating Float barn. On any given day there is always something new happening and it is here where we will share the fun we’re having building our sponsor’s floats!

As the only builder based in Pasadena, we love our community too! We invite you to share in the Phoenix Experience and be part of the process from first draft to final petal!