"I started back in 1999 when we had a roller coaster on the float and one of the memories I have about that is, it was raining the day they had judging. I was only 13 and you're supposed to be 16 to be up on the scaffolding. But they had to have the roller coaster reseeded and I was this little kid who's scared of heights as it is, trying to reseed the track with seaweed.
"Another memory I have is we had a western theme float a few years back. Kind of Knott's Berry Farm theme and it took me three days to build a vulture. It was to sit on top of a tree. From here in Downey, it takes us 6 to 7 hours to get to Pasadena on New Year's Eve night. Sometimes, the items that are too high or that need to be placed on the float just before the parade will need to be transported in cars, so we form a caravan. My vulture sat too high on the float to make it under some of the bridges, so we had to transport it in a separate car. Boy, it's cold on New Year's Eve."
~ Alexis
For more on the Downey Rose Float Association, click here.