Lightly poised upon a single branch of acacia, a yellow butterfly emerging from its chrysalis heralded the 1915 Pasadena Tournament of Roses float for the City of Arcadia. The entry was designed by Mrs. Anita Baldwin McClaughry. Formed of yellow roses, marigolds and pom pom chrysanthemums, the butterfly is emerging from a chrysalis of gray-green foliage nine feet in length. This was the first official City of Arcadia entry in the Rose Parade.
The Arcadia float in the 2003 Tournament of Roses Parade will be built by Bill Lofthouse, dean of Rose Parade float builders and owner of Phoenix Floats.
"Spring is in the Air," Arcadia's float entry in the 1981 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, features butterflies with ancient Chinese patterns on their wings. The Arcadia Rose Court rides on the float.
"Ye Fairy of Ye Oak," 1915 Pasadena Tournament of Roses float entered by Mrs. Anita Baldwin McClaughry. Dextra McClaughry (age 13) and Baldwin McClaughry (age 10), children of Anita, rode on the float. Dextra, the Queen of Fairyland, stood beneath a spreading oak while the floor of the carriage was converted into a meadowland of softest green upon which shell pink roses, lilies-of-the-valley and hyacinths grew.
"I love a parade," Arcadia's float entry in the 1968 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, presented a boy on skates pulling a wagon in which the Arcadia Rose Court rode. It was 55 feet long and 17 feet high at its highest point. A framed copy of this removed from wall outside Admin. office and currently stored in map case in basement, as of February 2017.
"Magical Moments," Arcadia's float entry in the 1987 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, features a gigantic top hat from which a magic rabbit rises to a height of 30 feet. The Arcadia Rose Court rides on the float.
Plans for the Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association to revive its Rose float have fizzled for now because there is no room for another float in the year 2000 parade.
"100 Years of Good Health, Happiness, and Prosperity," Arcadia's float entry in the 2003 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Front view showing the "Queen's Trophy" award banner won for most effective use and display of roses in concept, design and presentation.
An 82-year tradition ended Monday when the Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association announced it will disband and not enter a float in the next Pasadena Rose Parade.
"On the Air," a combined Arcadia-Monrovia float entry in the 1940 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, featured a floral radio. Ten people rode on the float.
"Where Dreams Come True," Arcadia's float entry in the 1991 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, presents a frog prince surrounded by gardens and the Arcadia Rose Court.