The Magic Of Teamwork At The Tournament Of Roses

Every year since 1890, crowds have gathered in Pasadena, Calif., to witness a New Year’s tradition unlike any other—the Tournament of Roses Parade. What began as a modest celebration to showcase Southern California’s mild winter climate has blossomed into a global spectacle. In recent years, an estimated 800,000 spectators line the streets on that January morning, while nearly 73 million viewers worldwide tune in to watch.

The parade travels a 5½-mile route, featuring elaborate floral floats, equestrian units, marching bands, and tournament entries, each telling a story crafted not with paint or plastic, but with living, natural materials. Behind the scenes, the event represents nearly 80,000 volunteer hours, all leading into the day’s second great tradition—the Rose Bowl Game, where this year the Alabama Crimson Tide and Indiana Hoosiers will meet on college football’s grandest stage.

The 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade theme, “The Magic in Teamwork,” is more than a slogan—it is a reflection of the extraordinary collaboration that brings the parade to life. Few entries embody that theme more clearly than the Oddfellows & Rebekahs float, titled “Together We Grow.”

This marks another chapter in a tradition the Oddfellows & Rebekahs have upheld since 1908, making them one of the longest-running fraternal organizations participating in the parade. In today’s world of ever-higher expectations and increasingly grand designs, the work on each float begins almost immediately after the previous parade concludes.

This year I have a number of friends from California, Colorado, Iowa, New Jersey, and Texas who have converged to contribute their time, energy, and craftsmanship, offering a rare inside look at what it truly takes to build a Rose Parade float. Like many parade participants, the Oddfellows & Rebekahs partner with a professional decorating firm—in their case, Phoenix Decorating Company of Irwindale, California—working out of a dedicated float barn.

Once a concept is finalized, construction begins with the assembly of the float chassis. Welders then build the steel framework, carefully accounting for driver access and safety features. When the structure is complete, the float moves into the foaming stage, where spray foam is applied to create the contours and textures that will later hold thousands upon thousands of decorative elements.

From there, the most meticulous phase begins. Scaffolding surrounds the float as volunteers prepare for decorating—an undertaking governed by strict parade rules requiring that every visible surface be covered entirely in natural, biodegradable materials. For the “Together We Grow” float, this means not only flowers, but a creative palette including coffee grounds, rice, flax seed, and black beans, each chosen for its color, texture, and durability.

Dry decorating begins in early December, with a crew chief coordinating the efforts of dozens of volunteers. The pace intensifies after Christmas, with shifts stretching 12 hours a day, growing to working until finished December 31st, as the final details are completed. Judging begins on parade morning, after which the float makes its journey down Colorado Boulevard, cheered on by crowds who may never fully realize the labor behind every inch of its surface.

When the parade ends, the story does not. For several days, floats are placed on public display, allowing visitors to admire the craftsmanship up close before the eventual teardown begins—a bittersweet moment marking the end of months of work, fundraising, and collaboration.

The Tournament of Roses Parade is often described as a celebration of beauty, but at its heart, it is a testament to commitment, cooperation, and community. Each float stands as a reminder that something extraordinary can be created when individuals come together with a shared purpose.

As petals fall and a new year begins, the parade offers more than spectacle. It offers a lesson—that teamwork, patience, and dedication still matter, and that when people work together, they don’t just build floats.

They build tradition.