Work is underway on a Rose Parade float honoring wildfire survivors, Tournament of Roses officials said.
The 137th Rose Parade will roll down Colorado Boulevard just mere miles from the fire-ravaged town of Altadena and nearly a year on from the start of the Eaton fire.
Earlier this year, Altadena Town Council Chair Victoria Knapp voiced concern that Altadena had not been approached for inclusion in the New Year’s Day festivities.
However, Knapp met with Tournament officials earlier this month in a meeting that Knapp described as very productive.
“I know that planning for that event is a year in advance,” Knapp said. “I didn’t want to come on too strong, if I’m being honest, but I also did not want Altadena to be forgotten.”
Logistics are still being worked out, and the Tournament did not provide more specifics, but a group of tickets will be set aside for Altadena fire survivors to attend the Rose Bowl game, the Rose Parade and Floatfest, Knapp said.
In terms of inclusion in the Rose Parade itself, Tournament of Roses President Mark Leavens said the parade will pay tribute to Eaton fire survivors in different ways.
“My family’s going to ride in a fire truck to salute the people that helped out after the fire,” Leavens said. “There’s going to be a lot of little tributes, but I’m just looking for the uplift that people will get from having a celebration.”
CEO David Eads said work is underway on a parade float “designed to honor the courage, perseverance and collective spirit of fire survivors.”
Tournament officials this week declined to provide more details and said more would be revealed in the coming weeks.
This year’s Rose Parade theme is “The Magic in Teamwork.” In a nod to the fire’s impact on the local community, the Tournament of Roses announced an updated eligibility process for the Rose Court. This year, applicants displaced by the fire who no longer lived in the boundary could still apply if they attended schools within the eligible area.
“While this theme was chosen before the fires in January, it felt especially fitting, having all the teamwork that we’ve seen in our community since the fires,” Leavens said. “Neighbors helping neighbors, first responders helping those in need, and volunteers stepping up in extraordinary ways.”
Knapp said Altadena has not had any input on a potential parade float.
“I also know and have great respect for the fact that figuring this all out this close to the event has really been a challenge for them,” Knapp said. “I’m going to give a little bit of grace on that and I’m certainly excited and interested to see what they come up with.”
David Wilson is a staff writer and Julianna Lozada is a SCNG correspondent.