SD Zoo gets top Rose Parade float honors for 2nd consecutive year

The San Diego Zoo received top honors in the Rose Parade for the second year in a row, winning the 2025 Sweepstakes Trophy for its float “Friendship Across the Earth,” the Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced.

Azusa-based Artistic Entertainment Services designed the float, which features the zoo’s two giant pandas enjoying their new home.

“Since 1924, the Tournament of Roses has recognized one participant with the Sweepstakes Award for the most beautiful entry, encompassing float design, floral presentation, and entertainment,” according to the organization. 

The pandas, 5-year-old male Yun Chuan and 4-year-old female Xin Bao, arrived in June from China and are featured in the zoo’s revamped Panda Ridge habitat.

A new panda cam, sandiegozoo.org/pandacam, allows for remote viewing of the pair’s daily activity.

“To receive the Sweepstakes Award is in itself such an honor, but to do so this year feels especially momentous,” Paul Baribault, president and CEO of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said in a statement. “In 2024, we had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching as Yun Chuan and Xin Bao brought the world together. They represent what is truly possible when we come together with a shared purpose, commitment, and trust in one another.” 

The zoo’s float featured “striking orange stripes and regal reverence of Connor the Malayan tiger (was) also featured,” according to the wildlife alliance. “Swinging high above cascading waterfalls, red pandas Lucas and Adira were seen frolicking among treetops.”

Wildlife alliance team members Megan Owen, Jana Biedenweg and Xiaoxing Bian, a global conservation leader, rode at the front of the float.

The 55-foot float offered a glimpse of the vibrant landscapes and over 700,000 individual plants that are cared for by zoo horticulturists. Individual plants grown and propagated at the zoo, including yellow groove, golden and black bamboo, were transported to Pasadena and added to the float, organizers said. 

The zoo’s 2024 top Rose Parade float “It Began With a Roar” celebrated the zoo’s 107-year history and also received top honors with the Sweepstakes Trophy. The zoo’s 2023 float “Celebrating 50 Years of Conservation” highlighted the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s 50th anniversary and received the parade’s Animation Award.

This year’s 23 additional winning Rose Parade floats are:

• Elks U.S.A., “Cherished Memories,” Americana Award for most outstanding depiction of national treasures and traditions

• City of Burbank, “Having A-Lava Fun!” Animation Award for most outstanding use of animation

• Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside, “Kindness is Free,” Bob Hope Humor Award for most whimsical and amusing float

• La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association, “Rover Rendezvous,” Crown City Innovator for most outstanding use of imagination, innovation and technology

• Louisiana Office of Tourism, “Louisiana Saturday Night,” Director’s Award for most outstanding artistic design and use of floral and nonfloral

• OneLegacy Foundation, “Let Your Life Soar,” Extraordinaire Award for most extraordinary float

• City of South Pasadena, “Seas The Day!” Fantasy Award for most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination

• Downey Rose Float Association, “Our Garden Railroad,” Founder’s Award for most outstanding float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization

• Sierra Madre Rose Float Association, “Fiesta!” Golden State Award for most outstanding depiction of life in California

• Love 2 Yeu, “Journey of Dreams,” Grand Marshal Award for most outstanding creative concept and float design

• Coding for Veterans, “Coming Home to New Beginnings,” International Award for most outstanding float from outside the United States

• City of Hope, “A Beautiful Day for Hope,” Isabella Coleman Award for most outstanding presentation of color and color harmony through floral design

• The UPS Store Inc., “Helping Dreams Take Flight,” Judges Award for most outstanding float design and dramatic impact

• Cal Poly Universities, “A Lake Day with Scottish Animals and Nessie,” Leishman Public Spirit Award for most outstanding floral presentation from a noncommercial participant

• City of Alhambra, “Good Day Dreamin’,” Mayor’s Award for most outstanding float from a participating city

• Visit Mississippi, “Mississippi: The Birthplace of America’s Music,” Past President’s Award for most outstanding innovation in the use of floral and nonfloral materials

• Western Asset, “Float Like a Butterfly,” President’s Award for most outstanding use and presentation of flowers

• City of Torrance, “What a Beautiful Day,” Princess Award for most outstanding floral presentation among entries 35 feet and under in length

• Shriners Children’s, “Hope Shines On,” Queen’s Award for most outstanding presentation of roses

• Trader Joe’s, “Here We Go!” Showmanship Award for most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment

• Pasadena Humane/Hill’s Pet Nutrition, “Welcome Home,” Theme Award for most outstanding presentation of the Rose Parade Theme

• Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee, “On The Road With Rotary!” Tournament Volunteer Award for most outstanding floral presentation of the Rose Parade Theme among floats 35 feet and under in length

• Trader Joe’s, “You Are Invited,” Americana Award for most outstanding depiction of national treasures and traditions

• Kaiser Permanente, “More Healthy Days for More Healthy Years,” Wrigley Legacy Award for most outstanding display of floral presentation, float design and entertainment

According to the Tournament of Roses, winning floats’ scores are based on creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation and dramatic impact.

Morgan Anderson, Bill Brzeski and Drew Rios were this year’s judges. They reviewed each float during judging sessions that took place during the decorating stages prior to the 136th Rose Parade, Tournament of Roses officials said.

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