2007 Rose Bowl Parade Theme - "Our Good Nature"

Rotary International enters "Lead the Way" float

The 118th Rose parade themed Our Good Nature, took place on Monday, January 1, 2007, featuring spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units. In honor of the Tournament of Roses' "Never on Sunday" tradition, the 2007 Rose Parade luckily lands on a Monday this year, gliding through the streets of Pasadena on January 1. The 2007 Grand Marshal is Hollywood (and intergalactic) legend George Lucas, father of the 'Star Wars' juggernaut.

Rotary's Float: This year’s Rotary International float is entitled “Lead the Way.” Designed by award winning float designer Raul Rodriguez & built by Larry Crain of Charisma Floats, with its “Mother Duck and Babies” appeal to children and adults alike, this whimsical float acknowledges Rotary’s commitment to Leading the way to Service around the World. As we celebrate the 118th year of the Tournament of Roses Parade theme “Our Good Nature” we celebrate Rotary’s 27th consecutive year of participation. We will also celebrate the Internationality of Rotary by having 8 Rotary Youth Exchange Students riding the float. Seen by millions of people around the world, Rotary’s entry into the Rose Parade is a wonderful venue to share with the world Rotary’s commitment to “Lead the Way” In World Service.

Rotary Float Committee Vice-Chair Ray Bushnell, Tournament President Paul Holman,
Float Builder Larry Crain and Rotary Float Committee Chair Ernie Jensen

Last year, more than 1300 Rotarians and their families, Rotaract Club members, and Interact Club members volunteered their time and effort to help decorate the float. These Rotarians worked countless hours putting flowers, seeds, dried petals, and greenery on every square inch of the float. Pins for the 2007 and 2006 Rotary Float are available. The handcrafted cloisonné pins (seen below) are approximately 1-1/8". The pins cost $5.00 including shipping and handling and your order helps support the float. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Order online here.

Float History: On Jan. 1, 1890, the citizens of Pasadena celebrated the first Tournament of Roses, with horse-drawn, flower-bedecked carriages parading through the streets to celebrate a climate that allows roses to bloom in January. About 2,000 folks showed up for that inaugural event, beginning a tradition that has grown exponentially over the years. Today's Tournament of Roses Parade is one of the nation's largest single-day events, with an estimated one million people lining Old Town's Colorado Boulevard to catch a glimpse of the state-of-the-art floats that many builders spend all year creating. With celebrity grand marshals, a Rose Queen, and marching bands from schools, communities and military units across the country, the 5.5-mile parade route is a spectator's delight. The event has become a national New Year's tradition, with network television bringing the Pasadena parade to millions of viewers across the country. The incredible floats, in all their floral fabulousness, spend a few post-parade days parked in Pasadena for visitors to get up close and personal. White-suited volunteers are on hand to explain the floats, and patient visitors can get within an arm's length of these mobile works of art.