The La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association is in the early stages of its 2019 float-building effort, which this year includes raising $30,000 to update animation technology for the float.
To match the parade theme “Melodies of Life,” the La Cañada Flintridge float, designed by Renee Johnson and being built at the Valley Water facility behind Flintridge Prep, will feature three Louisiana frogs making swamp music.
“This is going to be our big, beautiful tree that arcs across the float,” said Charles Terhune, the association’s director of construction, as he pointed to a large pile of steel from which the “tree” will be created.
Terhune explained that once the “Tree Frog Night” float is transformed from the early stages of maintenance, welding and shaping into the process of decorating and animating, new valves will be needed. These valves coordinate all of the float’s active parts, including the creatures, water and music. Ideally, a float with this many animations would have 48 valves, but the work under construction is currently down to 16.
To raise the money for additional valves, the association aims to sell memberships, ranging from Junior Floaters (for those age 18 and younger) for $10 a year to Rose Circle memberships for $800 a year, with several options in between. The dues help fund the float.
Additionally, there is a “Donate to Animate” campaign in which anyone can give specifically to the funds for updating and replenishing the valves responsible for animating the float.
The LCF display is a self-built float, meaning that the community is entirely responsible for conceptualizing, planning and building it — and that there is a constant need for volunteers.
To become involved in the association, go to Friday happy hours or monthly
dine-out nights, or visit the construction site on Saturday mornings. For more information about these events, visit lcftra.org.
