about the mayflower Society
rose parade float

​The Voyage of Hope - 1620 

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Rose Parade® floats are like building a custom truck, each one unique and with its own set accessories. Each float includes a driver and observer, sometimes more that are needed for the animation and working parts.   The Voyage of Hope – 1620 will be about 55’ long and is limited to 18’ wide.  The height must be able to collapse to 17’ to go under a freeway bridge along the route.  That is not much space to tell the complete story, so we need to focus on the most important facts.  Consider each as a vignette of the pilgrim story.

The Mayflower float includes several important icons to our pilgrim ancestors.  The largest element, of course, is the Mayflower ship which will be about 45% of scale.  She is not at full sail to show that she has arrived in Cape Cod and is resting in the harbor, with a few passengers remaining on board, and seagulls can be seen flying nearby. 

A shallop is carrying some passengers to their new land, ably assisted by a crewman.  Families of men, women, and children came seeking a new way of life. It is important to show this through our riders and walkers who accompany the float.  Period-correct clothing to illustrate those who embarked on this voyage is essential. 

Plymouth Rock stands proudly to welcome them.  Of course the engraved year 1620 wasn’t on the rock at the time of the landing, but today’s visitors will recognize this feature, so it has been included on the float as a familiar icon.  Next to Plymouth Rock is the Mayflower Compact. This foundational document was important, not only to the new colony, but would be the basis of the United States Constitution.

The front of the float is adorned with a bounty of vegetation.  To those history buffs, we understand that when the landing occurred, it was winter and this is not entirely accurate, however, in keeping with the need to have floral material on the float, the bounty that what this country would provide to those who survived the first winter and the Pilgrim – Thanksgiving connection is important.  The Committee has received approval to include up to 51 float riders and walkers to illustrate the survivors.  Applications are due July 31 and must include clothing photos.  Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The Wampanoag nation is also an important part of our story.  Should descendants want to share in this event, we have secured a place for up to four.  They are not depicted on this rendering as we have not received confirmation of their participation.

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GUIDELINES FOR PERIOD CORRECT OUTFITS

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