PASADENA, Calif. (January 1, 2016) -- Today, The Tournament of Roses announced the 24 floats awarded official honors in the 127th Rose Parade presented by Honda. These awards recognize excellence in a variety of categories and specifications.
The 2016 Rose Parade float award-winners are (alphabetically):
| AWARD | DESCRIPTION | PARTICIPANT NAME | THEME | BUILDER | UNIT # |
| Animation | Best animation and motion. | Sierra Madre Rose Float Association | Rollin' On The River | Self-Built | 73 |
| Bob Hope Humor | Most comical and amusing entry. | La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association | Up a Creek… | Self-Built | 70 |
| Craftsman Trophy | Exceptional achievement in showmanship and dramatic impact; limited to floats which exceed 55’ in length. | Farmers Insurance Group | Along for the Ride | Phoenix | 16 |
| Crown City Innovation | Best Use of Imagination & Innovation to Advance the Art of Float Design. | Kiehl's Since 1851 | The Beauty of Adventure | Fiesta | 32 |
| Directors’ | Outstanding artistic merit in design and floral presentation. | Dole | Soaring Over Paradise | Fiesta | 80 |
| Extraordinaire Trophy | The most spectacular float including floats that do not retract to 55' in length. | Disneyland Resort | Diamond Celebration | AES | 55 |
| Fantasy | Most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination. | Trader Joe's | Fearless Flyer | Phoenix | 66 |
| Founders’ | Most beautiful float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization. | Downey Rose Float Association | Exploring the Everglades | Self-Built | 34 |
| Governor’s | Best depiction of life in California. | Miracle-Gro | Life Starts Here. | Fiesta | 23 |
| Grand Marshal’s | Excellence in creative concept and design. | Kaiser Permanente | Helping Mother Nature Thrive | Fiesta | 28 |
| International | Most beautiful entry from outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. | China Airlines | Venture to Majestic Taiwan | AES | 84 |
| Isabella Coleman | Best presentation of color and color harmony through floral use. | Donate Life | Treasure Life's Journey | Paradiso | 38 |
| Judges’ Special | Most spectacular in showmanship and dramatic impact. | Los Angeles Lakers | Every Second is an Adventure | Paradiso | 61 |
| Lathrop K. Leishman | Most beautiful non-commercial float. | Cal Poly Universities | Sweet Shenanigans | Self-Built | 78 |
| Mayor’s | Most outstanding city entry - national or international. | City of Los Angeles | Discover Los Angeles | Phoenix | 58 |
| National | Best depiction of life in the U.S.A., past, present or future. | South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association | Fishing Follies | Self-Built | 10 |
| Past Presidents Trophy | Most creative design and use of both floral and non-floral materials. | Northwestern Mutual | Dancing Into Adventure | Fiesta | 41 |
| President’s | Most effective floral use and presentation. | The Bachelor | Love is the Greatest Journey | Fiesta | 87 |
| Princess’ | Most beautiful float 35’ and under. | City of Torrance | What a Purr-fectly Paw-ful Adventure | Fiesta | 88 |
| Queen’s | Most effective use and display of roses in concept, design and presentation. | Public Broadcasting Service | Downton Abbey: The Final Adventure | Paradiso | 15 |
| Sweepstakes | Most beautiful entry in the Parade with outstanding floral presentation and design. | Singpoli Group | Marco Polo East Meets West | Paradiso | 71 |
| Theme | Excellence in presenting Parade theme. | Burbank Tournament of Roses Association | Are We There Yet? | Self-Built | 39 |
| Tournament Special Trophy | Exceptional merit in multiple classifications including floats that do not retract to 55' in length. | California Milk Advisory Board | Adventures in Real Food | Fiesta | 82 |
| Tournament Volunteers Trophy | Best floral design of Parade theme 35’ in length and under. | Shriners Hospitals for Children | Fezzy Races to Adventure | Phoenix | 68 |
Scores are based on criteria such as creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation, and dramatic impact.
This year’s judges – Tom Bowling, Timothy Lindsay and Jodie Peterson-- reviewed each float during judging sessions that take place during the decorating stages before the parade. The judges used their scores from the judging sessions to determine the trophy recipients. Banners for each award-winning float will be carried in the parade by the San Gabriel Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Greater Los Angeles Area Council of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
