Louisiana's inaugural float in the Tournament of Roses parade will debut on January 1, 2022. Photo courtesy of Louisiana Tourism via Facebook.

Community activists and volunteers join musicians aboard Louisiana float in Rose Parade

by: Leave a comment

The Hot 8 Brass Band and American Idol winner Laine Hardy will join six other Louisianans chosen to represent the theme “Dream. Believe. Achieve.” aboard the first-ever float representing Louisiana in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1. The float will depict the spirit of the Bayou State with moss-draped cypress trees, a Cajun fisherman in a pirogue, sculptured magnolias, pelicans, crawfish, crabs, and powdered sugar covered beignets.

The riders include:

• Ashini Modi, a 17-year-old community activist, started a 1,500 book library called the “Reading Rainforest” at Providence House- Shreveport
• Deputy Dylan Crawford of St. Tammany Parish, the recipient of the 2021 Louisiana Deputy’s Valor Award for a heroic water rescue on the Bogue Chitto River.
• Alyssa Carson of Hammond, an aspiring astronaut who has attended every space camp and hopes to travel to Mars.
• Dr. Brian Parker from Thibodaux Regional Medical Center represents Louisiana’s medical professionals who have steadfastly cared for Louisiana patients throughout the pandemic.
• Kara Bailey Lee, Jefferson Parish 2023 Teacher of the Year, represents educators across Louisiana.
• Todd Terrell, founder and president of the United Cajun Navy, represents all Louisiana volunteers who come to the rescue during natural disasters.
• Miss Louisiana (America) Julia Claire Williams of Kinder.
• Miss Louisiana (USA) Tanya Crowe of Amite.

The Louisiana float, titled “Feed Your Soul,” is 55 feet long, 18 feet wide and 24 feet high and is decorated with more than 35,000 roses and 18,000 purple irises, along with thousands or orchids, daisies and carnations.

Under the direction of Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, Louisiana Tourism budgeted $550,000 for parade expenses, which include the $350,000 float and $200,000 in travel and entertainment costs. Federal funding from the CARES Act will pay for the float as a means of bolstering tourism following the crippling effects of shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nungesser said his office paid a total of $700,000 to be in the Tournament of Roses Parade for one year, with an option for two more years.

The 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade will air at 10 a.m. CT on a variety of broadcast networks, including ABC and NBC.