Designing the Floats

The Tournament of Roses traditionally brings out celebration of entertainment in viewers worldwide –– and the team of float designers at Phoenix Decorating Co., using sketches, renderings and lots of imagination, are committed to assuring that’s the case with the 2009 Rose Parade. The parade theme, “Hats Off to Entertainment” provides varied inspiration for interpretation.

Webster’s Dictionary would seem to indicate agreement with Holman and Lofthouse – and most specifically with the designers.

The design team at Phoenix Decorating Co. is creating more floats for the 2009 parade than any other commercial builder. And they have elected to utilize President Corky Conzonaire's theme to its fullest extent.

Among her 16 interpretations for 2009 floats Michelle Lofthouse offers a "Salute to the USO" for the City of Alhambra; enjoys a "Sneak Preview" at the City of Glendale's Rialto Theater; a trip to the "Saturday Matinee" on Trader Joe's highly animated float; an exciting ride with the world-renowned Clydesdale team and its 75 year history of entertaining audiences for Anheuser-Busch; a highly entertaining riff on country music and rural life on first-year parade entry RFD-TV; and an upstanding kickoff to the entire 120th Rose Parade with American Honda's "Hats Off in Celebration -- featuring a 49-foot tall rendition of humanoid ASIMO.


Designer Art Aguirre has booked passage for parade viewers on a very special train which has a history of providing iron horse service to the Northern California city that's celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Dave Pittman provides a moving depiction of the entertainment attractions of Anaheim, and additionally puts the spotlight on the "Stars of Life" -- organ donors and their families -- with a stellar entry for Donate Life .