Volunteers put finishing touches on 2020 Rose Parade floats
PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Volunteers are using every second to help put the finishing touches on floats for the 2020 Rose Parade on New Year's Day.
Dozens of volunteers will spend long hours decorating the floats as the big day approaches, with some even traveling from other states to fulfill dreams of working on Rose Parade floats.
Sheli Christy wasn't complaining despite being covered in turmeric. It was the Burbank resident's first time volunteering with her daughter, aunt and a couple of friends.
Dozens of students from Cal Poly universities are very involved in building the float representing their schools.
"Not only do we learn these skills, we're doing it with our friends and our families, and I think it actually makes us better students and better learners," said student volunteer Ralph Agbayani.
Tom Shafer has happily taken on one of the stickiest jobs. He and other teammates are using thousands of redwood chunks to make the bark on tree stumps for a float.
"The glue comes off eventually!" he said laughing.
Volunteers continued to race to add flowery details to floats Monday, with less than 24 hours to the deadline.
Stefan Pollack, spokesperson for Fiesta Parade Floats, explained the requirements for all floats.
"There's a freeway overpass on the parade route, so anything over 17 feet tall has to actually lean back," he said.
Floats must also use all-natural ingredients. The Chipotle float, for example, has corn stalk leaves with eucalyptus leaves glued to the back - as every visible portion of the float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials.
The pace is expected to become more hectic as the event approaches.
Watch all of the festive floats make their way down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena live at 8 a.m. on Jan. 1, live on ABC7.
