If you want to get close enough to smell the roses, you may have already missed the float (er, boat). But there’s still hope.
There are two ways to see the 135th Rose Parade floats before they meander down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day. One: Pay $20 to see a slew of them at the Rosemont Pavilion. Two: Grab your scissors and volunteer to help decorate.
Either way, the best slots — those closer to when the floats are in their full blooming glory on Dec. 30 or 31 — are all but gone.
But, there’s still hope, especially for the helpful.
Pay to view
One-hour paid time slots are still available on Dec. 28 and 29 for viewing many floats receiving fresh-flower finishing touches at Rosemont Pavilion, 700 Seco Street, in Pasadena.
Admission is $20 with children 5 and under free. Tickets can be purchased online at sharpseating.com.
Note that timing is strictly monitored and you are encouraged to arrive early for your slot. If you arrive more than 30 minutes after your designated time, you may not be allowed in.
Tickets for Dec. 30 are sold out and the pavilion is closed to the public on Dec. 31.
Work to see
If you want to lend a hand during decorating week, you’ll get to see flowers, seeds, bark, grasses and all forms of organic material being applied to Rose Parade floats.
If you’re lucky, you may get to actually glue seeds onto a portion of a float. But, warn many of the organizers, you’ll likely do a lot of standing around and waiting, too.
There are volunteer shifts available at both the big decorating houses and at cities who participate with “self-built floats.”
In general, you’ll be asked to work a minimum of a 4-hour shift, with some shifts as long as 8 hours. Most float builders have a minimum age requirement — usually 12 or 13 — and adult supervision is required. You’ll be asked to sign a waiver.
In addition, most float builders recommend:
- Wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty with glue or paint
- Dress in layers, especially if it’s cold
- Wear close-toed shoes
- Do not bring ear-pods, iPhones or other sorts of entertainment
- Bring your ID
- Bring scissors
- Bring work gloves
- Be courteous. Don’t sign up and not show up. The float builders rely on your help, so inform them if you can’t make it.
Below are the various float builders, the time slots they have left and links for sign up.
ARTISTIC ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES (at Rosemont Pavillion)700 Seco St., Pasadena, CA 91103(626) 334-9388 | aescreative.com/volunteers
- Dec. 26, 27 have open shifts. Dec. 28, 29, 30, 31 are already full.
FIESTA PARADE FLOATS16016 Avenida Padilla, Irwindale, CA 91702Parking, drop-off and pick up-point is located at 1111 W. 3rd Street, Azusa, CA(626) 788-1828 | floatdecorators.com
- Young children are not permitted.
PHOENIX DECORATING COMPANYRose Float Plaza South, 5400 Irwindale Ave., Irwindale, CA 91706(626) 793-3174 | phoenixdeco.com
- Sign up for Phoenix through either petalpushers.org or kiwanisrosefloat.com.
- Dates are Dec. 21 to Dec. 31, though the dates towards New Year’s weekend are already full.
BURBANK TOURNAMENT OF ROSES123 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91502(818) 840-0060 | burbankrosefloat.com
- Burbank accepts volunteers as young as 7, though anyone under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Park in the Metrolink parking lot (5 W. Olive Ave., Burbank), under the Olive Ave. overpass at the corner of Olive and Flower St. Parking is free.
- Time slots are available from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
DOWNEY ROSE FLOAT ASSOCIATION13030 Erickson Dr., Downey, CA 90241downeyrose.org
- Downy has no assigned shifts, so it’s first come/first served. Go online and print out the medical release form and bring it with you.
- Time slots are available Dec. 26 until noon on Dec. 31 (or when the float is complete)
LA CANADA-FLINTRIDGE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES ASSOCIATION4524 Hampton Rd., La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011 (Foothill Blvd. & Hampton Rd.)(818) 790-3818 | lcftra.org
- Decorating shifts are already closed, but they need other workers, such as greeters. Check the website for walk-in shift availability.
SIERRA MADRE ROSE FLOAT ASSOCIATION587 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024 (behind the tennis court at Sierra Vista Park)(626) 355-7005 | https://sierramadrerosefloat.org/
- Shifts from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31.
SOUTH PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES ASSOCIATION435 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030Behind the War Memorial Building | contact@sptor.org | sptor.org
- Shifts from Dec. 26 to Dec. 30
