The Final Countdown: South Pasadena’s Rose Parade Float and the Community Behind It

Jan 1

There are certain traditions in South Pasadena that feel bigger than a single event or season. The city’s Rose Parade float is one of them — a project built slowly, collectively, and with extraordinary care by volunteers who return year after year, long after the last petal has been glued into place.

Yesterday evening, we attended the Crunch Time Party, the moment that signals the final stretch before New Year’s Day and the culmination of nearly a year of work by the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. Held at the War Memorial Building, the gathering felt less like a fundraiser and more like a reunion — neighbors, volunteers, artists, and longtime supporters coming together to carry a tradition across the finish line.

A Legacy Built by Hand

South Pasadena is one of a very small number of communities nationwide that still designs and builds its own Rose Parade float entirely by volunteers. Unlike many entries that rely on professional float builders, South Pasadena’s float is conceived, engineered, decorated, and assembled locally — a distinction that places the city in rare company.

That commitment has paid off. From 2019 through 2025, South Pasadena floats have earned awards in six consecutive Rose Parades, a streak matched by only a handful of self-built entries across the country. The recognition is meaningful, but it has never been the primary motivation.

As decoration chair Janet Benjamin shared, the real reward comes from standing on the site, watching visitors stop, stare, and react with awe. That moment of shared pride — “Wow, it’s gorgeous” — is what keeps people coming back year after year.

This Year’s Story: The Great Picnic Heist

The 2026 Rose Parade theme, “The Magic in Teamwork,” could not be more fitting for South Pasadena.

This year’s float, The Great Picnic Heist, was designed by local artist Renee Hoss-Johnson and tells a playful story: a sleeping bear, a group of mischievous black ants, and a coordinated plan to steal a picnic basket. It’s whimsical, detailed, and layered — exactly the kind of narrative South Pasadena floats are known for.

But the story on the float mirrors the story behind it. Hundreds of volunteers, thousands of hours, and countless small acts of cooperation come together to create something far larger than any one person could accomplish alone.

The Real Work Happens Behind the Scenes

Building a Rose Parade float is not just creative — it’s logistical. The annual budget required to bring South Pasadena’s float to life is approximately $150,000, leaving very little margin for error. Every fundraiser matters. Every ticket sold, raffle entered, and auction bid helps close the gap.

The Crunch Time Party is one of the most important moments in that effort. Guests enjoyed dinner, drinks, live and silent auctions, and raffle prizes — all while knowing their $80 ticket was directly supporting a community tradition that depends entirely on local commitment.

For those who couldn’t attend in person, an online auction continues the effort, running from December 27 at midnight through January 1 at noon, offering another way for the community to participate.

More Than a Float

What stood out most last night wasn’t just the artistry or the awards — it was the sense of continuity.

Volunteers spoke about years spent working side by side. Newcomers were welcomed into a process refined over generations. Conversations moved easily between technical details, shared memories, and anticipation for parade morning. This is what a living civic tradition looks like.

South Pasadena’s Rose Parade float isn’t just something the city sends to Pasadena once a year. It’s something the community builds together — patiently, collaboratively, and with pride.

Event Details

S.P.T.O.R. Crunch Time Party
Monday, December 29, 2025
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
War Memorial Building
435 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena

Ticket Price: $80

For more information or to participate in the online auction, visit:
https://event.auctria.com/e8836172-990a-443a-a3a4-32d991af43f2/
Or call: (626) 720-2230

Looking Ahead to Parade Day

As the final countdown begins, South Pasadena’s float stands as a reminder of what’s possible when creativity, persistence, and teamwork align. On New Year’s Day, millions will see the finished product roll down Colorado Boulevard. But for those who know the story behind it, the real magic has already happened — quietly, over months, inside a float barn filled with neighbors working together.

That’s the part worth celebrating.

Jason Bergman