Rose Parade org seeking homemade float entries for virtual Rosebud Parade
Families sheltering in place may find themselves running low on things to do and reasons to celebrate, so to help combat boredom and inspire ingenuity, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn. is doing what it does best — planning a parade.
The local organizers of the annual Rose Parade are calling for entries into the Rosebud Parade, a new virtual procession that will showcase miniature floats crafted by locals out of common household materials, objects and backyard items.
The Tournament is accepting 90-second video submissions of homemade float entries now through May 11 and will compile them into a virtual parade that will be aired on Facebook Live on May 28.
David Eads, chief executive of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn., said while planning for the 2021 New Year’s Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game continues, organizers were looking for a way to spread cheer during trying times.
“We thought, what could we do to take what we do on New Year’s Day and bring it to Pasadena, Southern California and, really, the country and the world now?” Eads said in an interview.
Operating under the tagline “happiness is homemade,” the Rosebud Parade invites people to design and decorate without having to leave the comfort and safety of their own homes.
“This is all about creativity — don’t go out and buy something, just create something,” Eads said.
While the contest is fairly freeform, some guidelines apply. For example, floats should be at least 1 foot long and 1 foot tall and fully decorated. They may be motorized or pulled by remote control vehicles and can incorporate any theme of the contestants’ choosing.
Video entries must be in .MOV or .MP4 format, run no longer than 1.5 minutes in length and accompany an email that includes the name of the float, team builder recognition and any other information organizers can use to “narrate” the livestreamed parade.
“Give us a full 360-degree visual of what the float looks like, and give us the story behind it,” Eads advised.
Although health experts are still uncertain how long Californians may be sheltering in place to wait out the worst impacts of the current pandemic, Rose Parade organizers are hopeful the 2021 procession will go on as planned.
“Obviously, we’re working closely with the city of Pasadena and with the regulations set out by L.A. County, the CDC and World Health Organization,” Eads said. “We continue to monitor the situation, and if we need to adjust our plans, we’ll do that.”
Current Tournament President Robert Miller recently selected this year’s parade theme, “Dream. Believe. Achieve,” to celebrate the way in which education can open minds as well as doors of opportunity for young people.
Eads said while the theme embraces the transformative power of education, it’s also relevant to the struggle people are facing today as they make sacrifices for a safer, healthier tomorrow.
“I think you’re going to see us using that theme to a greater degree, not only in regard to education but what we’re all dealing with throughout this period and beyond,” he said.
Float video submissions may be sent to rosebudparade@tournamentofroses.com as an attachment or downloadable link. For more, visit tournamentofroses.com
