Flower petal-decorated floats were awarded honors for the 137th Rose Parade, with two San Diego creations among those taking top honors. Standing out was another amazing entry from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, which featured a small herd of full-size animatronic elephants, among other eye -popping elements. The float, called Giant Strides Together, won the Grand Marshal Award for Most Outstanding Creative Concept and Float Design. The San Diego Zoo took top honors in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 2024-25, winning the 2025 Sweepstakes Trophy for its entry Friendship Across the Earth. The float, designed by Azusa-based Artistic Entertainment Services, features the zoo’s two giant pandas frolicking around their new home. The San Diego Zoo’s float at the 2025 Rose Parade on Jan. 1. This year’s float from Lifesharing won the President’s Award for Most Outstanding Use and Presentation of Flowers. The entry featured the portrait of a boy from Poway, Drew Wilson Chan, whose organ donations saved three lives. Also on hand in Pasadena on Thursday was the U.S. Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band, a combination of military ensembles from across Southern California that included members from Camp Pendleton. This year’s Rose Parade theme was The Magic in Teamwork. Did you have a favorite float? Here’s what the judges thought. Travel South Dakota: Carved in Stone; A Legacy of TeamworkAmericana Award for most outstanding depiction of national treasures and traditions. Kindness is Free, Powered by Boys Girls Clubs of the West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside: Building Kinder CommunitiesAnimation Award for most outstanding use of animation City of Alhambra: Bee Magical TogetherBob Hope Humor Award for most whimsical and amusing float “Shrinking” (Apple TV and Warner Bros. Television Production): We’re Getting There. TogetherCrown City Innovator for most outstanding use of imagination, innovation and technology The UPS Store: Sharing Skills for SuccessDirector’s Award for most outstanding artistic design and use of floral and non-floral The UPS Store “Sharing Skills for Success” float decorated with seahorses in the rain during the 137th Rose Parade on New Years Day in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2026. San Francisco Travel Association: Believe In San FranciscoExtraordinaire Award for most extraordinary float A San Francisco float rolls down the route of the 137th Rose Bowl Parade on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, California Community Foundation and Black Freedom Fund (Artistic Entertainment Services): Rising TogetherFantasy Award for most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination The California Community Foundation and Black Freedom Fund “The Rising Together” float to honor victims of the Altadena, Pasadena, Pacific Palisades and Malibu wildfires features a Phoenix rising as it moves down the parade route in the rain during the 137th Rose Parade on New Years Day in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2026. Downey Rose Float Association: The Glow of AchievementFounder’s Award for most outstanding float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization Odd Fellows Rebekahs: Together We GrowGolden State Award for most outstanding depiction of life in California San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Giant Strides TogetherGrand Marshal Award for most outstanding creative concept and float design No AwardInternational Award for most outstanding float from outside the United States Elks U.S.A.: Elks Care, Elks ShareIsabella Coleman Award for most outstanding presentation of color and color harmony through floral design Sierra Madre Rose Float Association: Pancake BreakfastJudges Award for most outstanding float design and dramatic impact America250: Soaring Onward Together for 250 YearsLeishman Public Spirit Award for most outstanding floral presentation from a non-commercial participant The America250 float “Soaring Onward Together for 250 Years” with a trio of Bald Eagles moves down the parade route in the rain during the 137th Rose Parade on New Years Day in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2026. La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association: Goin’ NutzMayor’s Award for most outstanding float from a participating city City of South Pasadena: The Great Picnic Heist!Past President’s Award for most outstanding innovation in the use of floral and non-floral materials OneLegacy Donate Life: Treasure Every Moment TogetherPresident’s Award for most outstanding use and presentation of flowers City of Torrance: Together In HarmonyPrincess Award for most outstanding floral presentation among entries 35 feet and under in length City of Santa Fe Springs: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Inspiring the Future!Queen’s Award for most outstanding presentation of roses Shriners Children’s: Building Dreams TogetherShowmanship Award for most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment City of Burbank: All Paws On DeckTheme Award for most outstanding presentation of the Rose Parade Theme Lions International: In Harmony We ServeTournament Volunteer Award for most outstanding floral presentation of the Rose Parade Theme among floats 35 feet and under in length Trader Joe’s: You Float Our Boat!Wrigley Legacy Award for most outstanding display of floral presentation, float design and entertainment People ride on the Trader Joe’s “You Float Our Boat!” float in the rain during the 137th Rose Parade on New Years Day in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2026. ...read more read less