Here is the lineup order for the 2017 Rose Parade, “Echoes of Success,” being held on Monday, Jan. 2. The lineup order is subject to change, even up until parade day.
1. U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit Flyover: Flies directly from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
2. Sound car: 2017 Honda Ridgeline
3. Pace car: 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle
4. Opening show by Honda: A ‘Rose Cast’ of more than 250 performers and a colorful float, start the parade with a grand fanfare honoring the main stars of the 2017 Rose Parade. Roses are on the move everywhere on the theme banner float and are being wooed by a pop-soul trio.
5. American Honda Motor Co. – “Hope Blooms Forever”: The promise of a new day, a new year and the hope of the future is represented in the opening float with high school students from Japan’s Fukushima, which was heavily damaged from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. They represent many who have created new bonds of friendship between American and Japanese youth through educational and cultural exchange activities through the Tomodachi program that Honda started. An origami crane, emblematic of healing, hope and resilience, and the mythical phoenix, a symbol of renewal, meet in the center of the float above an origami rose. The cherry blossom tree in the center represents “Miharu Takizakura,” a famous cherry blossom trees in Fukushima. The ancient tree is more than 1,000 years old.
6. United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard: These Marines, based in Barstow, are mounted on mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management’s Adopt-a-Horse Program. The Corps is now the owner of these horses. The riders will be wearing Marine Corps Dress Blue Bravos.
7. United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band: From MCAS Miramar, MCRD San Diego, Camp Pendleton. Members: 111.
8. Downey Rose Float Association – “The Gold Rush”: Depicting an iconic event in California history — the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848 — this float features a water wheel and a fully functioning roller coaster.
9. Wells Fargo Stagecoaches: These stagecoaches are reproductions of the Abbott-Downing ones originally purchased in the 1800s and used to deliver mail and other communication between the East and West Coasts. Several Los Angeles Rams players will ride in the coaches. All horses are quarter horses or mustang crosses from Lancaster.
10. Donate Life – “Teammates in Life”: For its 14th entry, Donate Life celebrates everyone who makes organ and tissue donation possible. The ocean waves showcase 1,000 white Akito roses, individually dedicated in memory of specific donors.
11. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School “Kings of Halftime”: Lithonia, Georgia. Members: 230. Notable appearances: First American marching band to perform in Johannesburg, South Africa (2006), Cotton Bowl (2008), Bands of America competition (2011).
12. Burbank Tournament of Roses Association – “Home Tweet Home”: Success requires teamwork, which is on display as feathered family and friends come out to help the growing Chirpington family build their new home. Garry, the bird friend on the moving tape measure, is named in honor of Garry Marshall, the late actor, director and producer, who rode on the city’s 2013 float.
13. City of Hope – “The Miracle of Science with Soul”: Sharing stories of survival and hope after being treated at the Duarte cancer center, the float will feature riders and their doctors, nurses and caregivers, who worked together to help them conquer and treat their illness.
14. Westlake High School Chaparral Band: Austin, Texas; Members: 276. Notable appearances: Rose Parade (2003), Carnegie Hall (2005, 2009).
15. Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds: The horses in this unit are American Saddlebreds, the first known breed registry for horses in the United States. Marshal Michele Macfarlane and her mother, Ellen Browning Scripps Davis, started a breeding program in the 1950s to develop a line of American Saddlebred pintos. The riders will be in brightly colored silks. The horses will be in traditional English flat saddles and have been selected for their colorful markings, size and amiable dispositions.
16. Dole Packaged Foods – “Spirit of Hawaii”: Fresh fruit and produce will help showcase the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands in this colorful entry. Dole has also partnered with Feeding America and one of its local nonprofits, FOOD Share to bring awareness and donate to local food banks throughout Southern California to help feed the hungry. Bonnie Atmore, President and CEO of FOOD Share, will ride the float. Throughout the parade season, Dole is collecting non-perishable items at its headquarters, at the float decoration barn, and other sites, which will go directly to feeding and nourishing the hungry. About 2,000 gallons of recycled water are used for the waterfalls and fire plays a key part to the story of this float.
17. Marching Pride of Lawrence Township: Indianapolis, Indiana: Members: 180-plus. Notable appearances: Rose Parade (2005), Bands of America Grand National champion (2001, 2004).
18. Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee – “Doing Good in the World”: Another centennial celebration entry, this float features a friendly dragon carrying symbols that represent the philanthropic efforts by Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation, along its 35-foot-long body. A 100-year medallion that hangs off the dragon’s bit celebrates the Rotary Foundation Centennial. Classic suitcases feature the six Rotary symbols: peace and conflict prevention/resolution; disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and economic and community development.
19. Backcountry Horsemen of California – Mid-Valley Unit: Sonora, California: This group of horses and mules clears, maintains and improves backcountry trails, for the safety of hikers, bikers and equestrians. Pack and saddle animals are used to clear areas, inaccessible to motorized vehicles. Horse breeds include American Quarter, Paint, Pinto, Haflingers and Mustangs.
20. 24-hour Fitness – “Do More With Your 24”: For their Rose Parade debut, the fitness center chain encourages viewers to keep active and celebrate small daily successes as well as big ones, including just going to the gym. The float will feature giant human figures showing a variety of exercises and sports. Riders are real members and the fitness trainer that helped them in their fitness successes and in making “more” possible each day.
21. Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Industrial No. 3, Buhos Marching Band: Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico: Members: 200. Notable appearances: Hollywood Christmas Parade (2014), World Championships of Marching, Potsdam, Germany (2010).
22. Trader Joe’s – “All Aboard: 50 Years of Serving the Best”: Once again, this local grocery chain takes us on a ride along a delectable, lengthy vessel. ‘The Time Machine’ vehicle is a nod the past, celebrating the year of the opening of the first store in Pasadena in 1967. This entry also acknowledges the stores’ crew members which help to create their success in the last 50 years.
23. The Norco Cowgirls and The Little Miss Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team: The Norco Cowgirls are a high-speed, precision team of riders and their beautifully trained mounts. The horses are Quarter horses, Paints and Pintos and are chosen for looks, stamina and intelligence. The Little Misses are a junior drill team for girls ages 10 to 17. There are six mother-daughter pairs riding and one family with three generations.
24. Kiwanis International – “Children’s Dreams: The World’s Potential”: Depicting items that children play with, read and dream about, the float also features photos of real people helped by the 101-year-old global service organization.
25. Niceville High School Eagle Pride: Niceville, Florida. Members: 291: Notable appearances: Rose Parade, 2008; Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, 2012; also the Cotton, Fiesta and Orange Bowl games.
26. BDK, A Singpoli Affiliate – “The Monkey King: Journey to Success”: This floral spectacle is inspired by the novel, “Journey to the West,” an adventure that has been called an Asian “Lord of the Rings,” featuring multiple waterfalls, fire and a cloud mist. The Year of the Monkey ends in January 2017.
27. American Armenian Rose Float Association – “Field of Dreams”: The children on the stallion wearing traditional Armenian garments hold symbols representing literature, music and science – the fields in which this historic and ancient people have contributed to the world society.
28. Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society: This re-enactment group portray how upper-class women from 120 years ago dressed, using fabrics and patterns that would have been available in the 19th century. Each member has a rose “moniker” or nickname representing her place in the group. This group raises money to support horse rescue in San Diego and features several breeds, including Belgian draft, American Quarter, Peruvian Paso, Missouri Fox Trotters, Arabian, Paint and mule.
29. Union Bank and the American Heart Association, Western States Affiliate – “Keep the Beat Alive”: For three decades, Union Bank and the American Heart Association have partnered in the fight against heart disease and stroke. This musical-filled float is designed to spread the word about the importance of CPR training, and keeping the beat of 100 beats per minute – the compression rate for proper hands-only CPR. The AHA is also celebrating its initiative to encourage all states to adopt hands-only CPR training as part of their high school curricula. The survival rate of someone experiencing cardiac arrest doubles or triples when a CPR-trained bystander acts quickly to effectively perform CPR. California was the latest state to pass a law requiring CPR training for most high school students this last September. Teens who performed CPR to save someone’s life, and some who were saved by a teen using CPR, will ride the float.
30. Broken Arrow High School’s The Pride of Broken Arrow: Oklahoma. Members: 310. Notable appearances: Rose Parade (2013), Bands of America Grand National champion (2006, 2011, 2015).
31. Los Angeles – “Follow The Sun”: This colorful floral extravaganza illustrates the City of Angels’ efforts to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, along with a commitment to sport and healthy living. Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Lex Gillette and April Ross will be among the Olympic and Paralympic legends on the float. The Memorial Coliseum walls are decorated in lettuce seed to recreate a cement tone, and more than 1,000 stems of Bird of Paradise border the sides of the structure.
32. Grand Marshals: Co-Grand Marshal, Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Janet Evans will ride aboard a 1915 Pierce Arrow seven passenger Pheaton; Co-Grand Marshal, Olympic sprinter and gold medalist Allyson Felix will ride in a 1911 Pope-Hartford, Model W, Pony Tonneau; and Co-Grand Marshal, Olympic diver and gold medalist Greg Louganis is riding in a 937 Bentley 41/4 Liter.
33. Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Herald Trumpets: The 10-member unit of 9 trumpeters and one snare drummer, always welcomes the preceding Royal Court in the parade. More than 80 current trumpet players from PCC and Southland high school players audition for this royal opportunity each year. Band director Kevin Brown composes the fanfares performed by the Herald Trumpets.
34. Royal Court: Queen Victoria Castellanos of Temple City; Princess Audrey Cameron of Pasadena; Princess Maya Khan of South Pasadena; Princess Shannon Larsuel of Altadena; Princess Autumn Lundy of Altadena; Princess Natalie Petrosian of La Cañada Flintridge; Princess Lauren Powers of Pasadena.
35. 2017 Rose Bowl Game Hall of Fame Inductees: Bobby Bell, Ricky Ervins, Tommy Prothro (posthumously), and Art Spander.
36. Rose Bowl Game – Penn State
37. Rose Bowl Game – The Pennsylvania State University Marching Blue Band
38. Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek riding in a 1907 Autocar Bus.
39. Miracle-Gro – “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”: Saluting America’s national flower and the most popular flower grown in backyard gardens, this entry features more than 25,000 roses — from miniatures to large vibrant blossoms — to create a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors. Rose Queens from 1967, 1995, 2007 and 2015 will be seated in a butterfly-drawn carriage at the rear of the float, along with DIY expert Ty Pennington.
40. Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band: 88th consecutive Rose Parade; The 220-member band is comprised of current PCC Lancer Marching Band members and select auditioned high school students from throughout Southern California. The honor band will perform their theme song “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” along with “Seventy-Six Trombones,” “Pure Imagination” in tribute to Gene Wilder, and a very special arrangement of “Star Wars.”
41. Valley Hunt Club: The group that started it all. The Kimball Park Drag Carriage with the club president will be pulled by four Friesian horses. The carriage will be driven by Gerben Leyendekker of Visalia, owner of both carriage and horses.
42. Rose Bowl Game – University of Southern California
43. Rose Bowl Game – USC Trojan Marching Band
44. Northwestern Mutual – “Waves of Hope”: In this playful animated entry, a day at the beach represents more than just catching a wave. Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s Childhood Cancer Program started a wave of giving in 2012, with the help of the company’s employees and financial representatives nationwide, by raising millions of dollars to fund childhood cancer research and family support. Through a partnership with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, the program’s wave helped support the research of Dr. Yael Mossé from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Mossé developed a breakthrough treatment for neuroblastoma which eventually helped Edie Gilger and her family, who are riding on the float. Edie was six months when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, and is now 7 and in remission. The wave of giving continues with Steve Guinan, a Northwestern Mutual managing partner from Philadelphia, and cancer survivor, whose office recently directed $100,000 through the Northwestern Mutual Foundation to Dr. Mossé to continue her work to find cures for more children.
45. Tournament of Roses, Executive Director/CEO Bill Flinn will ride in a 1936 Packard Eight. After more than three decades with the organization, Flinn is retiring in spring 2017.
46. The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band: Long Beach. Members: 180. Notable appearances: 98th consecutive Rose Parade.
47. AIDS Healthcare Foundation – “To Honor & Remember Orlando”: Dedicated to the memory of the 49 who perished and those who survived a terrorist attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, the float features a large dove with outstretched wings. It’s adorned in white coconut chips and white dendrobium orchid florets. Forty-nine white doves will be released from the float on two separate occasions during the Parade; one each of those that died in the attack.
48. Los Hermanos Bañuelos Charro Team: The horses in this Altadena-based group are American Quarter Horses, Andalusian or Azteca, a horse from Mexico descended from the Andalusian. Each rider owns his own steed and their costumes are totally hand-made authentic Charro attire, created either in Mexico or here. The traditional long-sleeved shirts are embroidered with roses for the parade. The bow ties are part of the attire and the hats, made with authentic rabbit fur, also strictly conform to Charro tradition. The riders live in Altadena, Chino and Ontario.
49. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs – “Through The Ages”: This group, which promotes a culture of caring and sharing, and goodwill to all people, celebrates their many achievements with this entry, and their 65th parade anniversary. A picture book in the back pays tribute to two previous parade floats, ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers’ and the ‘Shining Knight’. There is also a picture of the historical Rebekahs Children’s Home in Gilroy, California, as well as a picture of an historic Odd Fellows building in Washington, DC.
50. Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band and Color Guard: Members: 375. Notable appearances: 15 Rose Parades, two presidential inaugural parades, most recently January 2005.
51. The UPS Store (Not just UPS, the UPS STORE) – “Books Bring Us Together”: As an exclusive sponsor for the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, the UPS Store’s locally owned and operated stores have raised more than $3.5 million in donations and more than 36 million books to children in need. The program is committed to providing books and educational resources to less fortunate children in communities across the country. The float is the tallest this year with a 42-foot tall glasses-wearing giraffe being helped to read a book by his friend the mouse sitting atop a stack of books.
52. Mane Attraction Equestrian Drill Team: While this is the first Rose Parade for this Riverside group, they do lots of other parades, including Anaheim’s Halloween parade and the Hollywood Christmas Parade. The group was founded in 2006 by Gina LaRock, the group’s marshall, and Sherrie Sedivy. It is an all-volunteer group composed of women who love to do equestrian drill and support charities. Much of their work is for NDR, a local therapeutic riding program for children and adults with disabilities.
53. Lucy Pet – “Lucy Pet’s Gnarly Crankin’ K-9 Wave Maker”: Going for two Guinness world records, this 125-foot-long float will be a sight to behold. It includes several surfing K-9’s taking advantage of an 80-foot-long ocean of water, and is expected to make history as the longest and heaviest Rose Parade float. The goal of Lucy Pet Products and the Lucy Pet Foundation is to reduce the number of dogs and cats that are euthanized due to overpopulation throughout the U.S.
54. Gifusho Green Band: Gifu, Japan. Members: 153. Notable appearances: Yearly appearances in the Nationwide Championships of the Japan Marching Band Baton-Twirling Contest since 2001, where they have won the “Gold Medal” award three times; representing Japan in All-American Music Festival and Contest, and Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida (2006). PCC TofR Honor Band alto saxophonist, Minami Matsui is an international student from Japan studying music at PCC and marching in the parade. Minami marched in the 2015 Rose Parade with the Green Band from Japan. Her sister Riko Matsui (color guard) is performing with the Gifusho High School Green Band this year.
55. United Sikh Mission – “Together We Rise”: A nonprofit based in Southern California, the United Sikh Mission helps those living in rural and poor parts of India. The center of the float features a large replica of the Golden Temple, the holiest place of worship in Sikhism, and located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India.
56. 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment: Fort Hood, Texas. This all-volunteer group founded in 1972 and assembled from active service members. It is intended to remind all of the important legacy of the cavalry in our American military past. The riders will be in “campaign uniforms,” typical of the 1880s. The steeds are American saddle horses and will be wearing McClellan saddles. The group also represents the U.S. Army in military and civic ceremonies, parades and demonstrations. It has been at three presidential inaugurations, several Tournament of Roses parades and the 1984 World’s Fair. There will also be two Belgium draft mules pulling a supply cart.
57. Foothill High School Falcon Marching Band: Henderson, Nev. Members: 284. Notable appearances: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2014), National Memorial Day Parade, Washington, D.C. (2012), St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Dublin, Ireland (2009).
58. Shriners Hospitals for Children – “Anything is Possible”: The sky’s the limit for Captain Fezzy, the fuzzy bear mascot for Shriners Hospitals, and his crew, which includes Super Bowl MVP and East-West Shrine Game alumnus, Mark Rypien, Shriners Hospitals’ national patient ambassadors, Karolina and Marius, and others. Shriners is also excited to begin serving more children when its new Medical Center for Children opens on Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena.
59. Seven Oaks Farm Miniature Therapy Horses: Six miniature horses (plus 2 more, Violet and Scarlet Elsa for back-up) will be coming out from Hamilton, Ohio. Each horse will be dressed in a specific outfit to represent various therapy programs: Brothers Dakota and Remington in black and blue are part of the “Valor” program, and work with the Cincinnati Police Department to foster communications between officers and their community. Patches, a leopard-spot Appaloosa, will be with a representative from the Hamilton P.D. Denver will be in a pink and purple unicorn outfit as befitting his Make-A-Wish participation. Duke will represent programs for farm horses. Dallas will be in blue and represent work with hospice groups. This will be a 6,000 miles round trip journey for the group and the horses can travel no more than 300 miles a day. The horses will be accompanied by humans, but will not have riders. They range in size from 29-32” and from 100-160 pounds (about the size of a Saint Bernard). On their journey, the group will stop at three Ronald McDonald Houses and visit injured service personnel in Fort Bliss, Texas, and San Diego’s Naval Hospital.
60. Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) – “Celebrating a Century of Occupational Therapy”: OTAC is kicking off the centennial celebration of the profession with this float entry honoring the millions of individuals and families whose lives have been impacted by the healthcare profession. Panels represent the heritage and history of the profession. In the rear of the float, the Hull House in Chicago is a symbol of the therapy’s training roots where the first courses in the profession were held in 1917.
61. The Bachelor – “Echoes of Love”: The reality show is going exotic and tropical with their third parade entry. The show’s 21st season kicks off on January 2 with new bachelor Nick Viall, riding the float, returning to the Bachelor Mansion for his turn to find his true love.
62. Ooltewah High School Marching Band: Ooltewah, Tenn. Members: 131. Notable appearances: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2007, 2013), Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, Orlando (2011), McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade, Chicago (2012).
63. Tournament of Roses President Brad Ratliff, his wife Susan, his father, Dick Ratliff, TofR President in 1999, and his wife Susan(cq), and family, will be pulled along the route, on freight wagons, by the Twenty Mule Borax team.
64. La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association – “Backyard Rocketeer”: Many La Cañada Flintridge residents are involved with the deep-space exploration projects conducted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, so it’s fitting that the idea for this float won an annual concept contest that draws up to 150 entries. The cheerful alien greeter is decorated with camellia leaves with highlights of lemons, limes and kumquats, while the body of the rocket features silver leaf with black bean highlights.
65. Cal Poly Universities – “A New Leaf”: A family of chameleons: With a record of producing floats that have earned 56 trophies since 1949, this entry is another amazing work that features a family of chameleons, which will change colors, venturing out into the world to explore new horizons. The group boasts using 95 percent of floral materials that were California grown, and some on one of the campuses of Pomona and San Luis Obispo. The animation is powered by 12 electric motors in addition to a student-built spring and hydraulic mechanism with more than 5,000 moving parts to create a chameleon color-change effect.
66. California Highway Patrol Mounted Patrol Unit: The Mounted Patrol Unit (MPU) has been around since 1995, when the State Police merged with the CHP. The unit is composed entirely of draft horses who will be coming from their regular duties in Sacramento. On a daily basis they patrol the State Capitol, Capitol Park and some 300 state buildings. The horses are owned by the state of California and officers are assigned a horse they partner with during patrol each day.
67. California Milk Advisory Board – “Legacy of Generations”: The 200-plus year legacy of California dairy farms is celebrated in a float that features at least 85 percent of its flowers — including 10,500 roses and gerberas used to create the deck gardens — grown here in the Golden State.
68. Pulaski High School, Red Raider Marching Band: Pulaski, Wisconsin. Members: 220. Notable appearances: Rose Parade (2007, 2012); Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2003), Outback Bowl (2015).
69. Sierra Madre – “The Cat’s Away”: For its 86th entry, this self-built float gets playful with the saying, ‘When the cat’s away, the mice will play.’ These little mice have completely taken over the tea set to enjoy its sweets including sugar cubes and baked goods.
70. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Mounted Enforcement Unit: The unit was started in 1988, originally for backcountry patrols and backcountry search and rescue. They have since evolved and now additionally do crowd control and riot control, for protests and civil unrest. They also patrol rodeos, parks and ride in local parades. Parade attire for riders is the department Class A dress uniform and saddles are Western.
71. Lions Club International – “Celebrating 100 Years of Service”: The float represents 1.4 million members in 210 countries who subscribe to the service organization’s centennial theme, “Where there is a need, there is a Lion.” The base of the float is adorned with books detailing a commitment to youth, environment, vision and solving hunger issues.
72. Los Angeles Unified School District – All District High School Honor Band: Members: 360. Notable appearances: Rose Parade annually since 1973, Super Bowl (XI, XIV, XVII), Hollywood Christmas Lane Parade, Playboy Jazz Festival.
73. National Hockey League – “A Century of NHL Greatness”: Celebrating two milestone anniversaries, the League and the Los Angeles Kings, join the list of parade newbies this year with their hockey-themed float. The Kings will be celebrating 50 years, while the League is celebrating 100. The League has lots more in store for fans throughout 2017 for its Centennial celebration and includes Wayne Gretzky as the official ambassador.
74. Kaiser Permanente – “50 Years of Helping People Grow”: Building healthy communities is integral to Kaiser Permanente’s mission, and to that end this float celebrates the 50th anniversary of the health-care provider’s Watts Counseling and Learning Center, where nearly 2,000 receive care every year.
75. Union Rescue Mission, Los Angeles: In honor of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the organization, a wagon re-creating the original Gospel Wagon will travel pulled by two Belgian draft horses. The wagon used to travel past the saloons: If a man got “on the wagon,” he was looking for food, clothing and hope in his future. If he “fell off the wagon,” then he would be returning to drinking. The URM helps people experiencing homelessness. Not only does the shelter take in men, women and families, they are the only shelter downtown to assist single women. URM is located in the heart of Skid Row at 545 S. San Pedro. The riders will be dressed in costumes from the early 1900s. urm.org
76. Philippine Scouts Heritage Society – U.S. Army’s 26th Cavalry Regiment: After the Spanish-American War, the Philippines became an American protectorate. This group was originally formed in the Philippines under the leadership of American military officers and fought fiercely and bravely during enemy occupation in World War II. The current group was formed in 1984 to educate the public on the heroism and legacy of this group. The riders are current or retired military or descendents of the original group of veterans. The Philippine Scout regiments were some of the first U.S. Army units to be in combat during World War II and were resistance to the Japanese occupation. There will be American quarter horses and Arabians. Uniforms will be early World War II-style U.S. cavalry, khaki riding breeches and green campaign hats.
77. Ragu – “Simmered in Tradition”: The pasta sauce brand wants you to join them at the dinner table and hope to entice you with their debut float that celebrates their 80th anniversary. The rear of the float pays homage to Assunta and Giovanni Cantisano, the Italian immigrants who sold their family’s sauce from their front porch in Rochester, New York, beginning in 1937. The center will feature the Mullers — Frank, Nancy, Colin and Ariel — family farmers who, for three generations, have been cultivating the vine-ripened tomatoes used in RAGÚ sauces in California’s Central Valley. With fresh veggies and herbs also being used on the float – like garlic, zucchini, basil, oregano – it may not be your imagination that you are smelling that steaming (literally) plate of spaghetti.
78. Bands of America Honor Band (representing all 50 states): Indianapolis. The 300 members represent schools from more than 30 states. Award-winning band directors from across America put aside their usual competitive stance against each other and work together to teach and lead this one national band.
79. Alhambra – “No Call Too Small”: A vintage fire truck decorated with red carnations, mums, fine-cut strawflower and other items is the centerpiece of a float that celebrates Alhambra’s fire, rescue and emergency responders, who are called to more than 5,000 incidents every year. At the rear of the float, look out for a tabby cat moving up and down the tree.
80. Budweiser Clydesdales, St. Louis, Missouri: The association between Budweiser and the Clydesdales began in 1933 when cases were delivered to celebrate the end of Prohibition, including one to FDR in the White House. The eight horses are bays, with white legs and blaze, black mane and tail. And of course, the supervising Dalmatian will be on duty.
81. Torrance – “Be Your Own Knight”: West High School senior Lindsey Beckmeyer, the concept winning designer for this year’s float, portrays the brave Knight in this gender-role reversal of the traditional fairy-tale, where the female knight defends her castle and citizens from the furious winged dragon.
82. China Airlines – “Return to the Beauty of Taiwan”: Ecological conservation is the theme of a float that features depictions of rare birds (Mikado Pheasant and Muller’s Barbet) and plant species that are indigenous to Taiwan. Six dancers will be performing on the float.
83. United States Air Force Band: Travis Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. Members: 104. These musicians come from 12 different units, representing the more than 660,000 Active Duty, Guard, Reserve and Civilian Airmen which are America’s Joint Force in operations around the world. The Air Force celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2017.
84. Lutheran Laymen’s League – “Celebrate Jesus”: With this float, the Lutheran Laymen’s League celebrates the 100th anniversary of the organization, known for its evangelistic mission that includes “The Lutheran Hour” radio program, and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation led by Martin Luther.
85. Spirit of the West Riders: Leona Valley, California. This colorfully-clad unit blends history and entertainment in a representation of the wide variety of ethnic groups in the American West of the 1840s-1920s. And there are several varieties of horses, too, all owned by the riders themselves. This group is active in Hollywood and sometimes members appear in films.
86. Netflix – “Soar Beyond Imagination”: The Internet television network is reaching new heights with their debut parade entry. Beloved book-turned-movie, the float portrays “The Little Prince,” with the hopes to inspire young and old to stay imaginative. The story, a new Netflix original film, is about ‘an overscheduled girl who befriends an eccentric aviator; he regales her with tales about the adventures of an unusual boy who lives on an asteroid.’ Fun fact: The main character in the story is the Rose.
87. The Grove City High School Marching Band: Ohio. Members: 253. Notable appearances: Rose Parade (1990, 2002), Fiesta Bowl Parade (2009).
88. Farmers Insurance – “We Came, We Saw, We Covered”: The insurance group is bringing their funny-yet-true stories from their famous commercials to life, again, down Colorado Boulevard. The float body is a mobile claim center bus that will elevate to 30 feet to reveal the scene where eight dogs, aka (Mer-Mutts), have taken advantage of an “accidental” pool party inside a home. On the mantle is a tribute to “Hot Dog” a pizza loving hound who accidentally set its owner’s home on fire.
89. South Pasadena – “Never Give Up”: One of the longest running self-built groups, this entry shows how with determination and dedication, anything is possible. The float depicts the age old Aesop’s Fable “the Hare and the Tortoise” with the slow-and-steady tortoise crossing the finish line to win the race, while the Hare naps in a hammock before finishing the race.
90. The New Buffalo Soldiers: The troops wear uniforms typical of 1867 and 1872 parade dress. The horses are owned and trained by members of the troop and perform to military standards. The New Buffalo Soldiers were formed in 1992 to educate the current population to an important facet of American history. The U.S. 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and four Infantry regiments were formed after the Civil War, and were not completely disbanded until 1951. Breeds include black Tennessee Walking, Missouri Fox Trotters, American Quarter, and a Gray. 2016 marked 150 years of Congress authorizing black regiments in the U.S. Army, the 100th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers pursuing Pancho Villa into Mexico, and the 100th year of the formation of the National Park Service, where Buffalo Soldiers were the first guardians of Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks.
91. Western Asset Management Company – “Prosperity in the Wild”: Populated with a leopard, silverback gorilla, black rhino, brown pelican, scarlet macaw and other animals, this float reflects the parade’s theme, by highlighting successful efforts by individuals, organization and legislation to preserve rare and endangered species around the world.
92. Closing show by Wells Fargo: The World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corp, this grand finale is patriot filled. The production hopes to raise awareness for the American Red Cross and their humanitarian work serving veterans, active duty military members and their families. Show sponsor Wells Fargo once again wants to give thanks to the brave men and women of the United States military, both active duty and veterans, for their selfless service
93. Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps: Six-time Drum Corps International world champion.
94. Kern County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse: This group, founded in 1939 and the oldest working posse in California, is from the Bakersfield area and their other appearance in the Rose Parade was in 2011. This group of volunteers focuses on events and activities benefiting physically and mentally challenged children in Kern County. Horses will have black saddles and black and silver tack, riders will be in black with red roses.
