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| FLOAT THEME: |
The Magic of Mardi Gras
The Mardi Gras theme was selected for its extravagant floral potential in addition to the rich history and tradition the celebration has had for 300 years. The tie-in is also very timely with the rebuilding of New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina and the drive the city has to bring it back to life with Mardi Gras celebrations.
Mardi Gras is one of the world’s greatest celebrations held annually around the world, not just in New Orleans.
The flowers and colors of Mardi Gras are rich, regal and lively, just like the city of New Orleans. FTD selected Mardi Gras because of the float’s award-winning potential, but also because it feels New Orleans needs to keep the magic alive and continue to rebuild. |
| FLOAT BUILDER: |
Fiesta Parade Floats c/o Beverly Stansbury |
| FLOAT DESCRIPTION: |
Height: 30 feet
Width: 18 feet
Length: 55 feet
The artistic splendor, merriment and magic of Mardi Gras is celebrated in this regal and floral interpretation of Fat Tuesday by FTD with its 55th Rose Parade entry. The glittering style and carefree folly of costumed revelers, music and dance is magnificently captured in this floral juxtaposition of color and excitement. With bold stokes of colorful flowers, the celebrations of street spectacles and fanciful balls of Mardi Gras, past and present, come alive. The float consists of three floral arenas with an oversized sculpture lion, bedecked in opulent royal jewels, featured at the front of the float. Taking center stage are ornately carved and vividly colorful busts of jesters and Carnival Queen characters that slowly spin on a rotating crown amid floral fireworks and exploding stars. Velvety royal robes, draping from a crown of solid roses, creates the curtain for the rear platform stage where New Orleans style jazz is performed live. FTD’s floral celebration features over 100,000 roses.
Mardi Gras, which came to New Orleans through the heritage of the French explorers as early as 1699, is one of America’s oldest celebrations. |
| FLOWERING: |
FTD’s floral celebration features over 100,000 roses. Topiary orbs of roses, in various color tones, float over gardens of 60,000 vibrant red Charlotte roses. Crowns of golden strawflower petals are imbedded with thousands of bright scarlet red Rouge Baiser roses. Jesters and Carnival Queen costuming, predominantly in Mari Gras colors, have been embellished with an array of roses. The sculpted lion is crafted from thousands of yellow and gold strawflowers petals with teeth and claws from lunaria seedpods. He holds a golden sovereign orb created with inlaid, jeweled-tone roses. The colors of Mardi Gras are featured throughout; purple represent justice, green stands for faith and gold for power. The oversized jesters and Carnival Queen are dressed in an array of colors and textures including vivid green and yellow button mums, vibrant purple carnations and dendrobium orchid florets and crisp white coconut chips embroidered with roses. Skin tones have been achieved by blending walnut shell, paprika, cinnamon and cornmeal with sweet rice powder used for the white areas. Velvety curtains of purple chrysanthemums, overlaid with Madame Pompadour dendrobium orchid florets are lined with ermine fur of white coconut chips and black feather moss. Rose topiary orbs, in a variety of colors, float over gardens of over 60,000 Charlotte red roses. Framing the float are strings of pearls created in shinny white sweet rice with strung crown-flower tassels.
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ROSE PARADE MAIN PAGE
