This is the first time Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, is participating in the Rose Parade. “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.”

Brace yourselves for a spectacular start to the new year as Visit Lauderdale takes center stage at the 135th Rose Parade presented by Honda. Anticipated by over 800,000 spectators in Pasadena, California, and set to captivate a national television audience of approximately 45.5 million viewers, Greater Fort Lauderdale's debut in the iconic Rose Parade promises an unforgettable showcase of diversity and creativity.

Scheduled for the morning of January 1, 2024, Visit Lauderdale's custom-built float will weave through the streets of Pasadena, embodying the destination's commitment to inclusivity and warmth. The living tapestry in motion will feature 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 local Emmy®-nominated songwriter and impact artist Alexander Star.

Alexander Star is set to take center stage, serenading the audience with "Laudy Dayo," the newly released destination anthem for Greater Fort Lauderdale. This marks the first time Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, will participate in the renowned Rose Parade, and the excitement is palpable.

Stacy Ritter, President, and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "Visit Lauderdale's float will be a living testament to the uniqueness and inclusivity that define our destination. We are incredibly proud of our diverse float riders, each embodying a different aspect of what makes Greater Fort Lauderdale so special."

The float, measuring 24 feet long, 18 feet wide, and an impressive 55 feet high, will not only showcase the personalities that make Greater Fort Lauderdale unique but will also provide a glimpse of the destination's rich ecosystem. Life-sized alligators with waving tails, friendly manatees, and sea turtles emerging from the sands will come to life through the 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. The result will be a tropical paradise on wheels, showcasing why Greater Fort Lauderdale is an ideal destination for visitors seeking a genuinely welcoming and inclusive environment.

Don't miss the live telecast of the 135th Rose Parade on NBC and ABC beginning at 8 a.m. PST / 11 a.m. EST on January 1, 2024, and witness Visit Lauderdale kick off the new year in a dazzling display of diversity, creativity, and the vibrant spirit that defines Greater Fort Lauderdale.