La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association (#43)
Float Theme: The Great Howldini The La Cañada Flintridge continues its tradition of producing humorous animated floats with its 2006 entry, "The Great Howldini." The float features several magic tricks starring a dog pulling a rabbit from a hat. In addition to the rabbit, a shell game is magically played, cards twirl and dog bones levitate. The La Cañada Flintridge float is one of only six self-built floats in the parade that is designed and built with all volunteer labor.
This float features a carpet of roses and numerous floral displays to accent the humor and animation. The dog is wearing a jacket of red carnations with a black lentil bowtie. His fur is made from multiple shades of pampas grass. The rabbit is fashioned from white chrysanthemums and pink gladiola petals. The float incorporates 10,000 roses, 15,000 carnations and 20,000 chrysanthemums.
Lions Clubs International (#95)
Float Theme: We Believe in Magic
A gigantic, tuxedoed lion entertains parade viewers as he rides in a top hat floating along on a mystical flying carpet. This fine feline undoubtedly has many tricks up his sleeve, but it's his wand that signifies the true magic. The red and white cane depicts the Lions Clubs' dedication to working with the visually impaired, with the goal of wiping out preventable blindness. This is the 20th year that the 1.5-million-member organization has participated in the Rose Parade.
Blind and visually impaired members of the Leo Club of the Braille Institute help decorate the float. By participating in floral application, they are given the opportunity to touch and smell the flowers as they are applied to the float and truly experience the heart of the Tournament of Roses Parade. The lion's fur is created with pampas and uva grass, his tuxedo is decorated with black seaweed and the bowtie is made of carnation petals. The flying carpet is fashioned with lentils, split peas and yellow strawflower. The magic wand cane features white sweet rice and carnation petals.
City of Long Beach (#54)
Float Theme: Pacific Fantasy
A gigantic, beautiful, Southern California mermaid takes parade viewers on a magical Pacific Fantasy ride, surfing along the parade route. Mounted atop a seashell chariot, she is drawn along by a pair of huge Garibaldi fish, an endangered species native to the ocean waters in the Long Beach area. The fish and the mermaid are sporting strings of pearls and her shell chariot is adorned with some of the jewels of her home town: the Queen Mary, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Grand Prix auto race, an impressive skyline and an inviting harbor.
The mermaid dives down from her 22-foot-tall stature to just 17 feet to enable her to swim beneath a freeway bridge near the end of the parade route.
City of Los Angeles (#91)
Float Theme: LA's Architectural Heritage
Los Angeles is a magical city in many ways, including its architecture. A three-story Victorian-style home proudly introduces LA's architectural heritage, saluting the founding of the city in 1850 and the diversity of its architecture and people. The second largest city in the United States, Los Angeles is the Tournament of Roses' longest continual float sponsor with the 2006 entry representing 108 years of parade participation. Flowering trees, a fountain and lush garden setting accent the float, evoking visions of the many inviting neighborhoods that accent the familiar architecture of the downtown LA skyline.
The Victorian house is created with yellow and orange strawflower, ground sweet rice and ground lentil. The roof is made of palm bark and the trees bloom with dendrobium and cattleya orchids, on trunks of palm fiber. The garden areas feature roses, gerbera daisies, gladiolas and irises.
Lutheran Laymen's League (#93)
Float Theme: Miracle of Faith
A large cross symbolizes the "Miracle of Faith" and celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Lutheran Hour radio broadcast. Unique backlighting enhances the magical glow of the cross, while roses, yellow ribbon and butterflies serve to accent the Lutheran Hour's 57th Rose Parade entry. A richly colored pillow supports the cross. The Lutheran-affiliated Petal Pushers® provide more than 5,000 volunteer decorators each year for this float and for many others created by Phoenix Decorating Co.
The cross is covered with dry red, yellow, orange and purple strawflowers; the sides of the cross feature sweet rice; and roses at the center are created with red and yellow strawflower. The yellow ribbons being placed by Monarch butterflies are created with a combination of yellow strawflower and live flower petals. The butterflies feature acetate wings colored with sesame seeds and yellow and orange strawflower. The pillow supporting the cross is made of red carnations with details provided by yellow strawflower, split peas and blue strawflower.
Macy's Rose Queen and Royal Court (#51)
Float Theme: Presenting the Royal Court
The 2006 Tournament of Roses Rose Queen and Royal Court are exquisitely presented in a horse-drawn float of floral opulence. Rose Queen Camille Clark, 17-year-old senior at La Salle High School, is joined by her court: Princess Shannon Bowman, 17, John Marshall Fundamental High School; Princess Michelle Corral, 18, Flintridge Preparatory School; Princess Rachel Geragos, 17, Flintridge Preparatory School; Princess Alyssa Jones, 18, Pasadena City College; Princess Carolyn Loo, 17, San Marino High School; and Princess Eliza Walper, 17, Polytechnic School. As official ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the 88th Rose Queen and Royal Court participate in more than 150 community and media functions leading up to the 117th Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl National Championship.
An oversized replica of the Rose Queen's crown is designed as part of the carriage in the overhead canopy. Thousands of roses and orchids magnificently adorn this royal float. Reminiscent of magical fairy tales and happily-ever-afters, four graceful and powerful steeds pull this enchanting float-carriage; lead horses are Arabians followed by Morgan-Percheron dapple grays.
