PASADENA, Calif. (January 1, 2019) — Today, the Tournament of Roses announced the 24 floats awarded official honors in the 130th Rose Parade presented by Honda. These awards recognize excellence in a variety of categories and specifications.
The 2019 Sweepstakes Trophy, the most beautiful entry: encompassing float design, floral presentation and entertainment, was presented to The UPS Store, Inc.
The 2019 Rose Parade float award-winners are (alphabetically):
AWARD | DESCRIPTION | PARTICIPANT | THEME | BUILDER | |
Sweepstakes | Most beautiful entry: encompassing float design, floral presentation and entertainment | The UPS Store, Inc. | Books Keep Us On Our Toes | Fiesta | |
Americana | Most outstanding depiction of national treasures and traditions | Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day | Garden Fresh | Phoenix | |
Animation | Most outstanding use of animation | Burbank Tournament of Roses Association | Stompin’ Good Time | Self-Built | |
Bob Hope Humor | Most whimsical and amusing float | Northwestern Mutual | Spend Your Life Living | Fiesta | |
Crown City Innovator | Most outstanding use of imagination, innovation and technology | Trader Joe’s Company | Ride Captain Ride | Phoenix | |
Director | Most outstanding artistic design and use of floral and non-floral materials | Sierra Madre Rose Float Association | Harmony’s Garden | Self-Built | |
Extraordinaire | Most extraordinary float | Cal Poly Universities | Far Out Frequencies | Self-Built | |
Fantasy | Most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination | Western Asset Management Company | Yellow Submarine | Phoenix | |
Founder | Most outstanding float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization | La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association | Tree Frog Night! | Self-Built | |
Golden State | Most outstanding depiction of life in California | Big Bear Rose Parade Association | Play-Rest-Repeat | Fiesta | |
Grand Marshal | Most outstanding creative concept and float design | Stella Rosa Wines | Taste The Magic featuring Kool & The Gang | Fiesta | |
International | Most outstanding float from outside the United States | China Airlines | Rhythm of Taiwan | AES | |
Isabella Coleman | Most outstanding presentation of color and color harmony through floral design | United Sikh Mission | A Divine Melody Resonates In All | Phoenix | |
Judges | Most outstanding float design and dramatic impact | Donate Life | Rhythm of the Heart | Fiesta | |
Leishman Public Spirit | Most outstanding floral presentation from a non-commercial participant | Easterseals | Celebrating Easterseals 100 Years of Disability Services | Fiesta | |
Mayor | Most outstanding float from a participating city | South Pasadena Tournament of Roses | Three Little Birds | Self-Built | |
Past President | Most outstanding innovation in the use of floral and non-floral materials | Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DigAlert) |
Backyard Harmony | Fiesta | |
President | Most outstanding use and presentation of flowers | City of Hope | Harmony of Hope | Phoenix | |
Princess | Most outstanding floral presentation among entries 35 feet and under in length | City of Alhambra | Home Tweet Home | Phoenix | |
Queen | Most outstanding presentation of roses | Farmers Insurance Group | A Carousel of Experience | Phoenix | |
Showmanship | Most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment | Universal Pictures & Dreamworks Animation presents How To Train Your Dragon | How to Train Your Dragon – The Hidden World | AES | |
Theme | Most outstanding presentation of the Rose Parade theme | Shriners Hospitals for Children | Fezzy’s Garden of Hope and Healing | Phoenix | |
Tournament Volunteer | Most outstanding floral presentation of the Rose Parade theme among floats 35 feet and under in length | City of Torrance/ Torrance Rose Float Association | The Power of Music | Fiesta | |
Wrigley Legacy | Most outstanding display of floral presentation, float design and entertainment | Dole Packaged Foods | Rhythm of Paradise | Fiesta |
Scores are based on criteria such as creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation, and dramatic impact.
This year’s judges — Preston Bailey, Michael E. Berry, and Kimberly Oldis — reviewed each float during judging sessions that take place during the decorating stages before the parade. The judges used their scores from the judging sessions to determine the trophy recipients. Banners for each award-winning float will be carried in the parade by select members of the Tournament of Roses Troop, which includes Gold Award Girl Scouts and Eagle Scouts.