Float riders, including Miss Florida Seminole Princess, highlight the diverse sights and sounds of Greater Fort Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (December 18, 2023) – With more than 800,000 spectators expected in Pasadena on Monday, January 1, 2024, at the 135th Rose Parade® presented by Honda, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s diversity and creativity are unfolding on Visit Lauderdale’s spectacular float in the Rose Parade®. Living proof of the destination’s commitment to welcoming and delighting everyone under the sun, its float riders include Miss Florida Seminole Princess Thomlynn Billie; LGBTQ human rights leader Stuart Milk; Broward County Public Schools Principal of the Year Marie Hautigan; Florida Panthers’ hockey legend Bill Lindsay; Florida Panthers mascot Stanley C. Panther; and Alexander Star, a local Emmy®-nominated songwriter, performer, and impact artist who recently partnered with Visit Lauderdale. Star will take center stage as he performs “Laudy Dayo,” the newly released destination anthem for Greater Fort Lauderdale, on Visit Lauderdale’s custom-built float.
The 135th Rose Parade® live telecast will be aired on NBC and ABC beginning at 8 a.m. PST/ 11 a.m. EST in Pasadena, California. The wide-reaching event draws a national television audience of approximately 45.5 million viewers.
This is the first time Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, is participating in the iconic event.
“Visit Lauderdale’s float will be a living tapestry in motion,” said Visit Lauderdale president and CEO Stacy Ritter. “We are incredibly proud of our hand-selected float riders who represent different aspects of Greater Fort Lauderdale – from our rich cultural heritage to our commitment to inclusivity and diversity, and of course our extraordinary sports, entertainment and musical personalities who encapsulate what makes our destination so special.”
In addition to the honored riders, Visit Lauderdale’s Rose Parade float will feature life-sized alligators with waving tails, friendly manatees, and sea turtles emerging from the sands, offering a glimpse of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s unique ecosystem that spans from the Everglades to the Atlantic Ocean.
The float, which is 24 feet long by 18 feet wide and 55 feet high, will re-create Greater Fort Lauderdale’s tropical paradise through an ingenious use of organic materials. Designers will utilize up to 45,000 flowers, including 1,000 varieties of fragrant and colorful roses, paired with flax seeds, brussels sprouts, sesame seeds, blue statice, heliconia, cymbidium orchids and more, to cleverly showcase why Greater Fort Lauderdale is an ideal destination for visitors seeking a genuinely welcoming and inclusive environment.
For more information on the Rose Parade, visit https://tournamentofroses.com. To request an interview with Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, contact Ebony Tyre at etyre@broward.org.
About Greater Fort Lauderdale
With 24 miles of golden sand beaches and 300+ miles of navigable waterways, Greater Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America and Yachting Capital of the World. The area boasts an average year-round temperature of 77˚F, has 3,000+ hours of annual sunshine, and is home to 31 unique municipalities, including eight distinct beach communities, each offering something for “everyone under the sun.” Residents hailing from 170 countries, speaking 147 languages call this diverse destination home. And there’s good reason, including the area’s unwavering commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Upon arrival at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), a five-minute drive will get you to the beach, Port Everglades, the newly expanded Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, and a bustling downtown. Experience 4,000+ eateries, a thriving arts and culture scene, craft breweries, stunning rooftop bars, fishing, diving, and the unmatched beauty of the Florida Everglades. From world-class shopping, to boating, yachts and superyachts all moored at the area’s many marinas, it’s no wonder Greater Fort Lauderdale is one of the most desirable places to stay, work and play. The destination has more than 38,000 unique lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, luxury spa resorts, and beautifully appointed, boutique properties, all reflecting the area’s cosmopolitan vibe.
About Visit Lauderdale
Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and serves as the tourism department for Broward County, Florida. Visit Lauderdale promotes the area’s 31 municipalities to a global audience of leisure and business travelers as the ideal place for Everyone Under the Sun in recognition of the area’s diverse and welcoming vibe, and books conventions into the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and area hotels and resorts. Find more information and follow @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® and The Rose Parade® presented by Honda
The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that hosts America’s New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® and a variety of accompanying events. The Association’s 935 volunteer members supply more than 80,000 hours of manpower, which will drive the success of 135th Rose Parade, themed “Celebrating a World of Music” on Monday, January 1, 2024, followed by the 110th Rose Bowl Game. For more information, visit www.tournamentofroses.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.