See the list of Rose Parade float award winners – NBC Los Angeles

Two dozen flower-covered Rose Parade floats were awarded honors by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Wednesday morning.

The 2025 Rose Parade float award winners were judged in a variety of categories, including the Sweepstakes Award for Most Beautiful Entry. The highly coveted award, presented since 1924, went to the San Diego Zoo.

Float results are based on creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computer animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation and dramatic effect. Judges reviewed each float at sessions prior to the New Year’s Parade on Colorado Boulevard.

Banners for each award winner were carried in the parade, which featured nearly 40 total floats. Some are sponsored by Southern California cities, and others are supported by companies and organizations such as UPS, Trader Joe’s, the San Diego Zoo, Pasadena Humane, Kiwanis International and Kaiser Permanente. Universal Pictures also participated in a float to celebrate “Wicked” with nods to the production’s star characters – Glinda and Elphaba.

After the parade, the floats will be exhibited at Float party at Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards, where spectators can get a close-up toilet. The float party will be open from 1.30pm to 5pm on Wednesday, and from 9am to 5pm on Thursday and Friday. The float party opens at 7 a.m. Thursday for seniors and people with disabilities.

Here are the 2025 award winners.

The average high quality float costs $275,000.

Sweepstakes: San Diego Zoo

Most beautiful entrance that includes float design, flower presentation and entertainment.

Americana: ELKS USA

Most excellent portrayal of national treasures and traditions.

Animation: City of Burbank

Most Excellent Use of Animation.

Bob Hope Humor: Boys & Girls Club

Most whimsical and amusing floats.

Crown City Innovator: La Canada Flintridge

Most unique use of imagination, innovation and technology.

Instructor: Explore Louisiana

Most unique artistic design and use of floral and non-floral materials.

Extraordinary: One Legacy Donate Life

Most extraordinary floats.

Fantasy: City of South Pasadena

Most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination.

Founder: Downey Rose Float Assoc.

Most Outstanding Float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization.

Golden State: Sierra Madre Rose Float Assoc.

Most excellent portrayal of life in California.

Grand Marshal: Love 2 Yeu

Most outstanding creative concept and flow design.

International: Coding for Veterans

Most outstanding flows from outside the United States.

Isabella Coleman: City of Hope

Most unique presentation of color and color harmony through floral design.

Judges: The UPS Store

Most excellent flow design and dramatic effect.

Leishman Public Spirit: Cal Poly Universities

Most Outstanding Floral Presentation by a Non-Commercial Entrant.

Mayor: City of Alhambra

Most Outstanding Float from a Participating City.

Former President: Visit Mississippi

Most outstanding innovation in the use of floral and non-floral materials.

President: Western Asset

Most exceptional use and presentation of flowers.

Princess: City of Torrance

Most Outstanding Flower Presentation among entries 35 feet and under in length.

Queen: Shriners Children’s

Most excellent presentation of roses.

Showmanship: Trader Joe’s

Most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment.

Theme: Pasadena Humane/Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Most excellent presentation of the Rose Parade theme.

Tournament volunteer: Rotary

Most outstanding floral presentation of the Rose Parade theme among floats 35 feet and under in length.

Wrigley Legacy: Kaiser Permanente

Most unique display of floral presentation, float design and entertainment.