Rose Parade pays tribute to families with fanciful floats

By: PAUL CHAVEZ - Associated Press | Saturday, January 1, 2005 6:01 PM PST ∞

PASADENA -- The 116th Rose Parade wowed its audience Saturday with a mix of fanciful floral characters that included a 50-foot rocket man, a dragon teaching its toddler to fly, and a family of frogs on a bicycle trying to escape a menacing French chef.

The New Year's Day extravaganza began with a roaring flyover by an Air Force B-2 stealth bomber that brought hundreds of thousands of sleepy spectators to their feet. It featured 50 flower-covered floats reflecting its "Celebrate Family" theme, along with 25 marching bands from as far away as Taiwan, and 26 equestrian units.

Disney icon Mickey Mouse was grand marshal.

"That was the best day of my life," 10-year-old Tyler Bratton said after snapping pictures of his first Rose Parade with a disposable camera.

The parade followed a huge overnight new year's celebration in which people camped out on the street and huddled around barbecues and portable heaters to keep warm.

"This was a great way to celebrate the new year and ring it in," said Brad Hibbard, 35, of Newport Beach. "New Year's Eve is such a lockdown" in many places.

The parade was led by the Disneyland float, a 45-foot-tall replica of Sleeping Beauty Castle that commemorates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the theme park. It was covered with white, yellow and lavender mums, plus "an ample touch of genuine Disney pixie dust," according to the parade program.

The early entries had a decidedly military feel as a Marine Corps honor guard and marching band brought the crowd to its feet. A float sponsored by the city of Alhambra followed, depicting a floral eagle and two American flags.

Among the most spectacular floats was a 50-foot robot that fired jets of carbon dioxide as the Elton John song "Rocket Man" played through loudspeakers.

The first-ever entry from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology won the award for best use of imagination and innovation to advance the art of float design.

A 207-foot train spouting fireworks sponsored by American Honda was the longest float in parade history, Titled "Families Across America," it drew loud cheers from the crowd and won the award for exceptional showmanship and dramatic impact for a float more than 55 feet long.

"It was just a massive float," said Jean Dormann, 67, of Walnut Creek.

The award for most the beautiful floral presentation and design went to "Playful Pandemonium," sponsored by Rain Bird. It depicted a family of panda bears frolicking in a misty forest and stream

"Mom's Flight School," sponsored by the city of South Pasadena, featured a dark orange and red-winged dragon teaching its toddler to fly.

Another float that captured the fancy of parade-goers was "Family Road Trip," sponsored by the Automobile Club of Southern California. It featured a mobile home atop a bright green and purple dinosaur.

On the float by the city of La Canada Flintridge, a family of four frogs rode a bicycle to escape a menacing chef.

Among the bands, one of the biggest crowd-pleasers was the Taipei First Girls Senior High School Marching Band from Taipei. The all-female band got loud applause after stopping at the main grandstand and playing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

"This is one of the years when I really enjoyed the bands," said David Kobrin, 44, of Hollywood, who attended his 15th parade.

Many of the revelers had staked out front-row seats on Friday and spent the night huddled around curbside barbecues or wrapped in blankets.

Overnight temperatures dipped into the low 40s but a weeklong series of winter storms ended early Friday, leaving sunshine and clear skies for the parade.

During the overnight new year's party, authorities arrested at least 34 people for investigation of public drunkenness and other charges. One person was booked on suspicion of assault after a scuffle. No major injuries were reported.

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