Float plan is underway

Elia Powers

A group that included four past Rose Queens who reside in Newport

Beach gathered at Roger’s Gardens on Tuesday to get a first look at

designs for Newport Beach’s Rose Parade float.

Incorporating the city’s centennial theme, “Sailing Through a

Century,” float builders Fiesta Parade Floats used a collection of

vessels, sea mammals and nautical symbols to fill the platform.

“Our job was to take 20 different ideas and include key aspects of

Newport Beach’s history,” said Tim Estes, president of Fiesta Parade

Floats, a company that has produced the award-winning Rose Parade

float in each of the last 12 years.

This float, which is planned to be 55 feet long and 18 feet wide,

is the first Newport Beach is entering in the Rose Parade in more

than 60 years.

Dan Trimble, who chairs the city’s Rose Parade Float Committee,

said the parade entry is the perfect way for Newport Beach to

celebrate its 100-year birthday.

“I wanted to see the float connected with the centennial -- that’s

why we are doing it in the first place,” Trimble said. “It’s great

that they have connected elements of our city.”

The design shows four boats and is anchored by S.S. Newport Beach,

a large partial replica of an ornate sailing ship. A Barrel Back

wooden boat that had its heyday in the mid-1900s is joined by two

modern recreational sailing boats that will be in motion.

A pair of blue dolphins and an open clam shell with a large pearl

inside will also move up and down on the platform.

The float, designed by Fiesta Parade Float’s Raul Rodriguez, will

weigh about 40,000 pounds and use about 120 gallons of glue, Estes

said.

Each part of the float will be decorated with natural botanical

flowers -- including blue irises, white roses and orchids.

Newport Beach’s entry will be one of about 50 in the parade.

“It’s not easy to be selected,” said Gary DiSano, vice president

of the Tournament of Roses.

In the week leading up to the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Newport

Beach residents will take part in an annual rite of passage: the

float decoration. Marie Knight, Newport Beach’s centennial project

director, said she expects about 1,500 residents to volunteer their

time.

But Estes said most of the work happens weeks earlier, when Fiesta

Parade Floats employees construct the float, take it on test drives

and paint the objects as a color code for decorators.

Knight said about eight to 10 people will ride the float,

including two children who will sit atop the dolphins. Individuals or

corporations who donate at least $25,000 are eligible to place a

person on the platform.

She estimates the float will cost about $220,000 to build. The

city began its fundraising campaign by announcing its first $25,000

donor, Newport Beach businessman John Saunders.”There are multiple

chances to be a part of history,” Knight said. “If you can picture

yourself on the float, it’s possible.”

Tuesday’s event was the official start of Newport Beach’s

centennial celebrations, Knight said. Other major events include an

event featuring the Beach Boys on October 2 at Newport Dunes

Waterfront Resort; a cake-cutting ceremony on Sept. 1, 2006, the

city’s official birthday; and simultaneous parties on Oct. 8, 2006,

at the city’s two piers.

Knight said Newport Beach is planning to charter six buses to

travel to the Rose Parade.

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

elia.powers@latimes.com.