Rose float decorating starts Monday

The Miss Downey 2016 Royal Court, pictured here at the Downey Christmas Parade, was pinned by Downey city officials in November.  

Miss Downey Emely Lopez, Princess Christina Ledezma, Princess Hannah Handers, Princess Senovia Villatoro and Princess Linden Hausmann, Miss Teen Downey Marissa Padilla, Princess Giselle Garcia, Princess Ashley Rivas, Princess Michelle Vilarino, Junior Miss Downey Ava Melsh-Fountain, Princess Laila Sabir, Princess Jacqueline Rodriguez and Little Miss Downey Mia Vargas, Princess Celine Bautista and Princess Madeline Saldana. Miss Downey Royalty represent the  Downey Rose Float Association at many city and chamber of commerce events, in addition to raising funds for the entry in the 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade, “The Gold Rush.”

Photo by Pam Chambers

The Downey Rose Float Association will start decorating their entry in the Tournament of Roses Parade on Monday, Dec. 26. 

Keeping in the theme of the Tournament of Roses, Echoes of Success, this year entry is titled “The Gold Rush.”  It will feature a fully functioning roller coaster. 

Decoration week will be December 26 through January 1 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the float site, 13030 Erickson, Downey.  

The parade is Jan. 2 and begins at 8 a.m.

The Tournament of Roses has had a “Never on Sunday” tradition since 1893, the first year since the beginning of the Tournament, that New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday. The Tournament wanted to avoid frightening horses that would be hitched outside churches and thus interfering with worship services so the events were moved to the next day, January 2. Though horses are no longer outside local churches, the tradition remains to this day.