Keeping The ‘Self-Built Float’ Tradition Vibrant, South Pasadena Tournament of Roses to Hold Crucial Fundraising Yard Sale

The South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee is preparing already for the 2024 Rose Parade with a series of fundraising events and a design that celebrates the city’s spirit.

The committee, which builds and funds the city’s float entirely with volunteers, has been participating in the parade for over a century. It has the oldest self-built float in the parade.

On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11 and 12, the city’s Tournament of Roses Committee is holding a two-day Yard Sale to raise funds in support of the community’s iconic self-built float. 

The yard sale will feature such items as collectibles, tools, electronics, antiques, furniture, clothing, kitchenware, jewelry, books, children’s toys, games, and more.

All items are offered at reasonable prices. The sale will be held at the War Memorial Building, at 435 Fair Oaks Ave. in South Pasadena, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

“South Pasadena has the oldest self-built float in the parade,” Ed Donnelly, president of the South Pasadena Tournament of Rose Committee, said. “‘Self-built’ means entirely built by volunteers; we do not hire any professional help.  This proud tradition is over one hundred years old and is a point of pride for our small city.” 

South Pasadena residents and volunteers have been building their own float since 1893. The project also has always been self-funded, with the committee relying on the generosity of city residents and businesses to cover the costs of construction each year.

“This means every fundraiser is critical,” Donnelly stressed.  

For the 2024 New Year parade, South Pasadena’s float design will circle around the parade theme “Celebrating a World of Music.” 

“We wanted to showcase the exuberance and optimism of our community,” Donnelly said. “Our design is a group of tropical animals playing music together in an explosion of joy.  This reflects the energy and enthusiasm of all the young families that have moved into town in the past few years.”

The Committee is aiming to raise more than $140,000 to support the float’s participation in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. A yard sale was done in May and a golf tournament in June. The funds raised in these events will cover expenses for flowers, steel, and supplies needed for float construction; volunteers do all labor involved in building the float.

Before the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, South Pasadena will hold one more important event to solidify support for the city’s float.

“Our year-end ‘Crunch Party’ on December 29th is always a hit,” Donnelly said. ”Attendees have dinner and drinks, bid on silent auction items, compete to win big-ticket giveaways in our live auction, and of course, get to see the float just hours before it rolls down Colorado Blvd.” 

As always, volunteers will be needed during the Friday and Saturday yard sale. Students, scouts, and others looking for service hours can volunteer for this event, the Committee said. 

To sign up as a volunteer, contact Janet Benjamin at (818) 800-2724 or email her at janet@smmainsurance.com. 

To see how you can help in the creation of the South Pasadena Rose Parade float, visit www.sptor.org.