PARA LEER LA VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL, HAGA CLIC AQUÍ.

Burbank (California).- The city of Burbank is once again capturing hearts and attention with its creative, heartfelt, and technically ambitious float for the 2026 Rose Parade. Titled “All Paws on Deck,” the float is a pirate-themed ship brimming with animated animals, all on a quest for the ultimate treasure: a forever home. 

At 45 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 25 feet tall, the float combines humor, emotion, and mechanical innovation—while also serving as a touching tribute to fallen K9 Officer Spike, the first police dog in Burbank to die in the line of duty.

The concept was created by artist and illustrator Dave Lowe, who works in set design and art direction for film and television. After entering the float design contest twice before without success, Lowe approached this year’s entry differently. 

His blend of animals and pirate imagery resonated with the selection committee and became the blueprint for one of Burbank’s most dynamic floats to date.

“I’ve always loved pirates and animals, and I decided I’ll just draw something that I’d love to see, a float. The pirate thing came,” he said.

The float’s narrative centers on a crew of animals navigating the high seas together, following a treasure map that points to “X” — home. Characters include a spyglass-wielding dog that swings side to side, a peg-legged rabbit clinging to the mast, curious cats tucked around the ship, a parrot perched in the crow’s nest, and a turtle with a dolphin sidekick, whose shell is carefully decorated with numbered beans and Brussels sprout pieces. 

An intricate hydraulic system makes each character move in a way that looks real.

The float’s most emotional element is its tribute to K9 Spike, who was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty in 2024. The cannon dog on the float will wear a special spiked collar and a bone-shaped dog tag engraved with “K9-2,” Spike’s official call sign. This gesture moved many, including Spike’s handler and family, who visited the float’s workshop to see the tribute in progress. 

“He’s now crossing the Rainbow Bridge, still looking for his forever home,” said Linda Cozakos, President of the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association.

Beyond storytelling and tribute, “All Paws on Deck” is a mechanical marvel. The entire ship is designed to move in multiple ways, with the front lifting more than two feet while the rest of the float shifts in the opposite direction. 

Simultaneously, the cannon bounces with CO₂ bursts and light effects, the captain spins the steering wheel, and the ship rocks as if truly sailing. “It’s probably the most complex mechanism we’ve ever built,” said the engineering team.

“We totally went outside our comfort zone, in our box of what we would normally do, and did something totally different,” said Esteven Edward, Vice President-Float of the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association.

“It’s been very much a learning curve for us, but it takes us to the next step, the next element of what we can do. We are not a group to which you can say, ‘You can’t do that.’ We want to do different things and bring different elements to the parade. Take them on further.”

The float will have its own original music composed by Kailyn Frisaura, a young and promising composer.

Burbank’s float also carries a social mission: to promote pet adoption. The city is partnering with the Burbank Animal Shelter to launch a special adoption campaign from January 2 to 6, offering 50% off adoption fees. The goal is to help every animal find a loving home—just like the float’s characters are seeking.

After the parade, “All Paws on Deck” will be showcased at Float Fest in Pasadena from January 1st to 3rd and then in Burbank at Olive and Glenoaks from January 4th to 6th. The float will then be dismantled in the annual deconstruction work party and BBQ on January 10, marking the end of one creative cycle and the beginning of another.

Even as this float comes to life, Burbank is already planning for the future. The 2027 design contest is now open, with entries due by the last Wednesday in January. Designs must be black-and-white, no larger than 11×17 inches, and submitted either in person or online at www.burbankrosefloat.com.

Finalists will be reviewed in February, and the selected design will be registered with the Tournament of Roses before development begins anew.

Throughout the year, Burbank’s volunteer team works tirelessly—from welding steel frames to decorating with natural materials like seeds, flowers, and vegetables. The float operates on propane power, making it one of the few clean-fuel entries in the parade. It includes two engines: one for driving and another for powering animation. A complex system allows a driver—who cannot see outside the float—to navigate the route using lights, mirrors, and verbal cues from a front observer.

With “All Paws on Deck,” Burbank continues its tradition of building floats that impress visually and connect emotionally. From technical ambition to heartfelt tribute, this float tells a story of teamwork, remembrance, and hope. It’s a moving display—literally and figuratively—that reminds us all of the power of community, creativity, and compassion.