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A couple days before the parade, we attended BandFest where the bands did their halftime shows. There were bands from all over the country, even one from Japan. Brought back alot of memories for me of my marching band days!!
The floats are prepared in tents all over Pasadena. As the judging hour approaches, the last rush begins to attach all the fresh flowers.
There are rooms and rooms of flowers, and the whole tent smells wonderful. The detail was amazing -- an ARMY of volunteers working on
each float.
Parade day was cold but no rain. These floats, some costing $300,000, are made entirely of natural products, including flowers, grains, bark, seeds, etc. They are self-propelled with a driver underneath. The driver has no peephole and gets radio directions from someone up top in order to negotiate the turns. Many have their own incredible sound systems so the appropriate 'theme music' accompanies the float.
Some views of my sister Sheilah's newly landscaped house.