Dole Foods Rose Parade Float for 2017

The 2017 Rose Parade Entry from Dole Foods "Spirit of Hawaii" Celebrating it's Hawaiian Heritage 

For a second year in a row we got the chance to get up close and personal with the Dole Foods Float for the Pasadena Rose Parade. We got a peek at this year's entry "Spirit of Hawaii" and many more that are built and decorated at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale. The entire float process is serious business and takes hundreds of hours by the builders and volunteers and is a race to the finish every year!

Our morning was busy! We met the Queen and her royal court, tested our skills on a rock climbing wall, danced along with the polynesian dancers, enjoyed some yummy food and got to help decorate a float. This was just a few of the great things Dole Foods had waiting for us during our visit.

One of the sea turtles on the Dole Foods Float, ready for the finishing touches.

This year's entry from Dole Foods includes a 10-foot tall sculpture of King Kamehameha, the largest waterfall in the Rose Parade's history made with more than 2,000 gallons of recycled water. It will also feature an erupting volcano, and colorful animals including parrots, sea turtles and geckos decorated in tropical flowers. The lagoon will feature six dancers and at the street level an additional 12 dancers will move to Pacific-Island dances along side the float. Fresh, non-GMO fruits and vegetables grown by DOLE, including bananas, pineapples and mangoes will also be used as decorations.

The rendering for the "Spirit of Hawaii" Float

You can be apart of the celebration too! Kicking off the final countdown to the 2017 Rose Parade, Dole Packaged Foods is launching a sweepstakes One lucky winner and a guest will get to travel to the Big Island of Hawaii. Running through midnight on December 31, 2016, fans can enter for a chance to win the grand prize vacation, including hotel and airfare, as well as other weekly prizes. For more information about the sweepstakes, and to enter, visit Facebook.com/DoleSunshine or DoleSunshine.com/paradise.

Did you know? This year's theme is "Echoes of Success" and will travel on a 5 1/2 mile route! Ever wanted to volunteer to help decorate a float? Here's how! Checkout the link below to the many builders accepting volunteers still. (Dole Foods is not accepting more but many others still are) https://www.tournamentofroses.com/events/float-decorating

The 2017 Rose Parade Royal Court got in on the fun as well.

Be sure to tune in and watch the 128th Rose Parade live beginning at 8:00 a.m  January 2nd, 2017. Remember it's not on the 1st since New Years Day falls on a Sunday to keep with it's “Never on Sunday” tradition dating back to 1893. Wanna see it in person and don't have a reserved seat? Curbside viewing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pasadena city ordinance allows the occupancy of curbside space along the parade route beginning at noon on the day before the parade (1/1/2017). For tips and rules about curbside viewing, visit the Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau website and download the Visitor Hotline Handbook.

So do you watch the parade live or on T.V. like me? Either way enjoy and Happy New Year to Everyone!