Innovation Blooms as Historic First Electric Float Takes Shape

La Cañada Flintridge is making history at the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade with groundbreaking aerospace innovation developed by the same engineers behind NASA’s Mars helicopter.

The La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association’s float, titled “Rover Rendezvous,” will feature the first working drone ever to take flight during the parade’s storied history.

“What’s really going to set us apart is this Mars helicopter right here,” said Verne James, a Board member of the association. “It’s actually being built by the same physical people and the same individuals who built the actual Mars helicopter, which is remarkable.”

The unprecedented collaboration between community volunteers and aerospace professionals from NASA and JPL includes partnerships with Mount Wilson Observatory and AeroVironment, a defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that designs and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

“This year we have the first drone, as we discussed,” said Ernest Koeppen, La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association President. “The first year, we had color changing florals, and we’re also the first EV float this year.”

The project emerged from extensive consultation with JPL’s Mars Rover team – a unique fusion of community spirit and space-age technology in float design.

“We had the entire Mars Rover Drive team, about 12 people, come in and say, ‘Hey, you know what? Here’s our float. What do you think?'” Koeppen said.

The LCF Tournament of Roses Association, formed in 1978 by Kiwanis Club members, has earned more than 30 float awards over its four-decade history, including 2024’s Golden State Award.

The float construction site is at 4524 Hampton Road, La Canada Flintridge, where volunteers are welcome every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Local theater groups have joined the effort, which will continue through the intensive decorating period from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Eve, concluding with final judging Dec. 31.

Koeppen emphasized the organization’s innovative philosophy, saying, “My favorite saying that I keep putting out there is that we try to fail to a hundred, which means we think outside the box and shoot for 120% of anything.”

The project has garnered unprecedented support, with fundraising efforts expanding significantly as their Wine and Roses event grew from 75 to 150 attendees, increasing net proceeds from under $10,000 to approximately $40,000.