Volunteers Prepare For New Year's Day Rose Parade
PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — About 2,000 volunteers are working long hours Thursday to prepare for the New Year's Day Rose Parade.
The 124th Rose Parade, which begins at 8 a.m., is themed "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
The Honda sponsored event will include 41 large and expensive floats, some costing close to $4,000.
Kaiser Permanente's float, Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat, has required more than 10,000 hours of work.
"It has to be done. Talk about crunch time, three more days and they have to be ready," Kaiser Permanente's Mayra Suarez said.
The longest running participant in the parade, the city of Los Angeles, will be entering a float representing the Los Angeles International Airport.
It will include more than 7,000 roses and 5,000 carnations.
"Every inch of every float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds or bark," the Rose Parade's website said. "Each float is decorated with more flowers than the average florist will use in five years."
The two-hour parade will also include 21 marching bands and 21 equestrians.
Organizers of a float dedicated to veterans say they could use some help decorating from 8 a.m. to noon Friday. To get involved click here.
