Past Events

FEBRUARY 4 & 5 - CONCEPT CONTEST |   Our Concept Contest was a success with over 100 concept ideas submitted. The leadership team spent two days reviewing all the submissions and selected the winning design. The winning raw concept will be refined by the team and revealed by both campuses in September.

APRIL 22 & 23 - DDC | This event brings both campus’s leadership teams together to start to build out the selected design from Concept Contest. This is an opportunity for the students to explore ideas and challenge bounties. By the end of the weekend,   a complete and flushed-out float design is determined.

JUNE 13, 14, & 15 - RoseSTEM   | The Pasadena Tournament of Roses®, in partnership with Cal Poly Rose Float hosted RoseSTEM.   These workshops introduced middle and high school students to   STEM concepts critical in building a Rose Parade® float. Student leaders shared more about the Rose Float program and their lives as college students.   

JUNE 24 - MECH REVIEW | The students came together to review their proposed mechanisms, developing both fabrication processes and desired movements in order to finalize how the float will come to life.

AUGUST 19 - JOINT RETREAT  |   Students from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo recently held a joint retreat at the San Luis Obispo Lab to choose this year's song title for their upcoming float. The retreat also included enjoyable bonding activities to foster closer connections.

SEPTEMBER 9 -NEWCOMER’S DAY  | Cal Poly Rose Float hosted an exciting newcomer's day event, consisting of four engaging sessions where students had the opportunity to rotate between different departments. These departments included Design, Construction, Decorations, and Operations, allowing participants to gain valuable insights into the roles and responsibilities of each area. After learning about these departments, the students actively participated in related activities, enhancing their understanding and involvement in the Rose Float program.

Cal Poly 2023 Rose Float Wins

Extraordinaire Award

PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES ANNOUNCES PARADE THEME

2023 ROSE PARADE THEME – TURNING THE CORNER

This year, the 2023 Pasadena Tournament of Roses President, Amy Wainscott, announced “Turning the Corner” as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses theme; celebrating the unlimited potential that each new year brings, “The 2023 theme celebrates turning a corner. Whether that corner is actual or figurative like the unlimited potential that each new year brings—we all enjoy the opportunity of a fresh start,” explained Wainscott. “Turning a corner means rising above – alone, or with family, friends and community. This year, as we turn the corner together, we share in the hope, beauty and joy of what 2023 will bring.”

CAL POLY UNIVERSITIES 2023 FLOAT RENDERING

Student leaders are working to perfect the design with considerations for construction and decorations plans. You can look forward to the rendering design being publicly released by early Fall. In the meantime, enjoy looking at some of our previous designs!