City’s entry reaches for the stars.

By Nicole MOORE

On Tuesday the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. hosted an “Under the Bridge Happy Hour” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It was a time when La Cañada community members gathered to watch volunteers of all ages working on the city’s entry in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Attendees were asked to bring an appetizer or dessert to share with onlookers. Those above the age of 21 enjoyed cocktails while children and adults alike delighted in the beautiful display.

La Cañada’s 39th Rose Parade entry, titled “Backyard Rocketeer,” currently takes residence under the 210 Freeway at Hampton Road and Foothill Boulevard. The creation of the La Cañada Rose Parade float has been a yearlong process. About 600 volunteers have helped out with the float throughout 2016.

Among the volunteers is Sherri Norton, a La Cañada resident, and her family. The Nortons have been volunteering for the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. the past four years.

“It has become a family tradition. It just seemed like a fun thing to do. Growing up in Southern California you always see the floats and it seemed like a nice thing to be a part of,” said Norton. “My favorite aspect of working on these floats is the fun time spent with my family.”

Deciding on the design for the city’s entry begins with a design concept contest for the float that begins in November and closes on Jan. 15. After figuring out the concept of the design, scale drawings are given to a team of engineers to plan the animatronics of the float.

“People send in their ideas but they don’t even have to do a drawing. The design committee collects [the ideas] and goes through them. They narrow them down

and present three ideas to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn.,” said Peggy Hoteling, La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. publicity chair. “The creator of the winning concept gets two tickets for the parade. We try to choose a float that allows animatronics and whimsy and fits in with the theme of the parade. The theme of the parade this year [is] ‘Echoes of Success,’ which perfectly aligns with what our JPL experts have done.”

The design of the 2017 La Cañada Flintridge entry for the parade has been a community consensus, rather than being submitted by a single person. While the idea of a backyard rocketeer has been suggested in years prior by La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. committee member Tim Rahtz, whose previous entry “Family Getaway” was La Cañada’s 2005 Rose Parade entry, he did not submit the idea this year.

JPL has given the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. permission to use its name, as well as NASA’s, on this year’s float.

The final judging will be on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31s at 12:40 p.m. on Foothill Boulevard and will be open to the general public. The La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. will find out if its float has won an award at 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 2 just as the parade begins.

The 2018 theme for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade will be “Kindness.”

  Nicole MOORE