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Sports
ENLARGE
By Kyle Magin
Staff Writer
Since 1954, people across the nation wake up and shake off the effects of New Year's Eve's revelry, as holiday tradition compels them to tune into the annual Rose Parade on TV.
It showcases California at its best, mocking the rest of the gray and snowbound country as brilliant Pasadena sunshine warms flowery floats.
Mother Nature will do her part without a lot of effort as another clear, 75 degree day is in the forecast. But, the nights ahead of the parade were filled with round-the-clock labor from hundreds of workers, including Grass Valley resident Todd Johnson.
A local florist at Foothill Flowers, Johnson is in his 12th year with Fiesta Floats, a company that designs and constructs a handful of Rose Parade floats each year.
“TV just doesn't do it justice,” Johnson said. “You've got to come see the floats up close. The old classic cars the tournament officials ride in are so cool. The bands and the horses ... it's a very cool experience.”
After coming on as a volunteer in 1998 to help a fellow floral designer, Fiesta contracted Johnson to work the parade every year. He flies down to Pasadena Dec. 26 each year and begins work on the floats the next day.
The float construction is a meticulous chore, Johnson said. He's working on floats for the cities of Torrance and Duarte this year.
“For the first few days its pretty mellow, but as it gets later it really gets hectic. You're on your feet on cement all day,” Johnson said. “By the 28th we're pulling 12- to 14-hour days, and on the night of the 30th we do a 24-hour shift.”
Constructing an all-organic float can be tricky, Johnson said, and designers will use just about anything.
“The floats are made completely of organic material — like flowers, seeds and dry leafs,” Johnson said. “Everything is fresh.”
Most of the materials Johnson works with are plants and floral arrangements he deals with at Foothill, but some are a little out of the ordinary.
“We'll get some unusual ... stuff, like hanging heliconia and some tropicals you don't get to see very often,” Johnson said.
On Dec. 31, the floats are judged, and for the past 13 years one of Fiesta's floats have won the Sweepstakes Trophy, annually awarded to the parade's most beautiful float.
After a celebratory meal and party New Year's Eve afternoon, designers are off to bed early, Johnson said, because they need to be up by 5 a.m. to touch-up the floats before the 8 a.m. parade start.
Watch for the two floats Johnson helped design — the City of Duarte and City of Torrance from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on ABC.
To contact Staff Writer Kyle Magin, e-mail kmagin@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.
Staff Writer
Since 1954, people across the nation wake up and shake off the effects of New Year's Eve's revelry, as holiday tradition compels them to tune into the annual Rose Parade on TV.
It showcases California at its best, mocking the rest of the gray and snowbound country as brilliant Pasadena sunshine warms flowery floats.
Mother Nature will do her part without a lot of effort as another clear, 75 degree day is in the forecast. But, the nights ahead of the parade were filled with round-the-clock labor from hundreds of workers, including Grass Valley resident Todd Johnson.
A local florist at Foothill Flowers, Johnson is in his 12th year with Fiesta Floats, a company that designs and constructs a handful of Rose Parade floats each year.
“TV just doesn't do it justice,” Johnson said. “You've got to come see the floats up close. The old classic cars the tournament officials ride in are so cool. The bands and the horses ... it's a very cool experience.”
After coming on as a volunteer in 1998 to help a fellow floral designer, Fiesta contracted Johnson to work the parade every year. He flies down to Pasadena Dec. 26 each year and begins work on the floats the next day.
The float construction is a meticulous chore, Johnson said. He's working on floats for the cities of Torrance and Duarte this year.
“For the first few days its pretty mellow, but as it gets later it really gets hectic. You're on your feet on cement all day,” Johnson said. “By the 28th we're pulling 12- to 14-hour days, and on the night of the 30th we do a 24-hour shift.”
Constructing an all-organic float can be tricky, Johnson said, and designers will use just about anything.
“The floats are made completely of organic material — like flowers, seeds and dry leafs,” Johnson said. “Everything is fresh.”
Most of the materials Johnson works with are plants and floral arrangements he deals with at Foothill, but some are a little out of the ordinary.
“We'll get some unusual ... stuff, like hanging heliconia and some tropicals you don't get to see very often,” Johnson said.
On Dec. 31, the floats are judged, and for the past 13 years one of Fiesta's floats have won the Sweepstakes Trophy, annually awarded to the parade's most beautiful float.
After a celebratory meal and party New Year's Eve afternoon, designers are off to bed early, Johnson said, because they need to be up by 5 a.m. to touch-up the floats before the 8 a.m. parade start.
Watch for the two floats Johnson helped design — the City of Duarte and City of Torrance from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on ABC.
To contact Staff Writer Kyle Magin, e-mail kmagin@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.
