The Tournament of Roses Parade is a spectacular event. In its 137th year, the 2026 theme was The Magic in Teamwork. Rotary has had a float in the parade every year since 1980. Decorated by Rotarian volunteers and funded entirely by donations (no money comes from Rotary International), the float promotes Rotary to millions of viewers worldwide. Rotary’s 2026 float theme is the same as the president’s message this year – Unite for Good.
This year, District Governor Cindy Rold brought a group of D5450 Rotarians to Pasadena to decorate the float and watch the parade. Special thanks to Karlyn McCrumb, member of the Littleton Rotary Club, for being the point person in making the arrangements. 25 Rotarians, spouses, and friends came to experience the magic. From cutting banana leaves to be the scales on the snake to putting roses into the float, we made our mark.
The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee hosts an annual Service Club Presidential Summit in the days leading up to the Tournament of Roses Parade. The Summit brings together the Presidents of the world’s four largest service organizations—Rotary International, Lions Clubs International, Kiwanis International, and Optimist International—for a roundtable discussion on global service. This unique gathering provides a rare opportunity for the leaders of these organizations to meet face-to-face, strengthen relationships, and explore ways to collaborate on projects that address humanitarian needs worldwide. For more information about the float, or to donate to support the float, go to: https://www.rotaryfloat.org/
