Float building is a rather amazing mix of highly professional artistry with hordes of volunteer helpers. The Phoenix site says it takes 20,000 hours to decorate an average float and 16,000 people volunteer (I think just for the 19 Phoenix floats). Our float had a Phoenix manager who had a book detailing the sequencing of how, where and importantly when the flowers are applied. He kept us all moving in one direction or another and kept boys off of the scaffolding.
Despite all the work being done, there is a wonderfully festive atmosphere at the Rosemont Pavilion. There are maybe ten floats being built there in the giant warehouse and each effort has its own band of volunteers. Many hundreds are jammed into the warehouse -- people from many different groups and cities. Camera crews are wandering around shooting the float construction. And tours are going on constantly with folks from all over being led through the Pavilion to watch the floats being built.
This is the flower tent that serves the Pavilion. Like a giant florist shop. Smells great in there!
Yeah, I know this is outside my East of Allen jurisdiction. But, sometime Friday morning all these flowers will actually be East of Allen. Stuck and glued onto floats, they'll move down Colorado Blvd. and cross Allen Avenue. From Colorado, the floats will roll onto Sierra Madre Blvd., which is a short walk from our house and where we'll see the parade.
5 comments:
You always do such great posts about the parade, Michael.
Thanks Petrea. I'm looking forward to the parade and to all the different views of the local blogging community, including the "mere blogger" at PDP!
I'm not a crowd enthusiast, so I enjoy the parade vicariously through you, Michael.
those stats are amazing
I wunder how long the Boy Scouts will be allowed to particpate in the parade in this PC world of today.
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