Irwindale California, USA — Floats are escorted through the Azusa/Irwindale area en route to Pasadena.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Christina House / For The Times  The Rose Parade floats start to roll out of the Rosemont Pavillon in Pasadena while thousands get an early look.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times  Wisconsin fan Andrew Schwingle high-fives passing Wisconsin fans at the Rosemont Pavilion, across the street from the Rose Bowl.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times  Leonore Perz, 12, of Los Angeles takes a nap under covers in anticipation of a long, cold night on Colorado Boulevard waiting for the Rose Parade with her family.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times  People arrive Friday afternoon to stake out their spots along Colorado Boulevard for the Rose Parade.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — Gabriella Valdez, left, of Los Angeles and Jessica Lopez, right, of Montebello help decorate the Cal Poly 2011 Rose Parade float entry "Galactic Expedition!"  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — From left, Haley Goyette and Jackie Berg, both 15, and Hannah Garner and Madison Doyle, both 14, all from Fresno, help put the finishing touches on the Honda float.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times  Pasadena — Volunteer workers put finishing touches on the Honda float. The Rose Parade touts a hybrid-powered float, in what it calls a move to green the event. But a closer look shows the annual event has a long way to go to downsize its carbon footprint.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times  Pasadena — Volunteers Monique te Velde, left, 12, of Chino and friend Katie Gollhardt, 24, of Glendora help decorate the Cal Poly 2011 Rose Parade float, "Galactic Expedition!"  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — Volunteers Brandon, left, and Amanda Long of Kansas City help decorate the "Galactic Expedition!" float from Cal Poly.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — A volunteer glues mums onto Cal Poly's "Galactic Expedition!" The float is made with mostly local and California-grown flowers and produce.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — Volunteer Colin Rickard, 19, of Oak Park places roses onto the Cal Poly float, "Galactic Expedition!"  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — Victoria Barrera and Jason Houston, right, of Hesperia, both 12, help put the finishing touches on the Honda float.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times  Pasadena — Eunice Castaneda helps decorate the 2011 "Donate Life" float at Rosemont Pavilion.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For the Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — Volunteers help decorate the Pfizer and Alzheimer's Assn. float at Rosemont Pavilion.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For the Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — Volunteer help prepare flowers to decorate various floats at Rosemont Pavilion.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For the Los Angeles Times  Irwindale — This decoration, which is not going to be used on any Rose Parade float this year, appears to look over workers preparing some of the 650,000 flowers used at Fiesta Floats.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — A volunteer helps decorate the Donate Life float at Rosemont Pavilion.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For the Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — Terry Baker, right, of Glendora, and Shellie Weber, left, of Ventura help decorate the eagle on the RFD-TV float at Rosemont Pavilion.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For the Los Angeles Times  Irwindale — Ashley Olivar helps prepare some of the flowers used at Fiesta Floats.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times  Irwindale — Paul Yasger works on the Discover Financial Services float at Fiesta Floats.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times  Irwindale — Roses to be used in the parade are prepared at Fiesta Floats.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times  Irwindale — Carnation petals are put in place for the Cunard Line float ("A Grand Celebration at Sea") at Fiesta Floats.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times  Irwindale — Flowers are placed on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation float at Fiesta Floats.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times  Pasadena — The Rosemont Pavilion is a hive of activity.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Katie Falkenberg / For the Los Angeles Times  Irwindale — "Chairs" for the dogs for the Natural Balance Pet Foods float are arrayed. The dogs came to practice Wednesday.  PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
People are lining Colorado Boulevard as volunteers finish floats for the 122nd Rose Parade taking place Saturday in Pasadena. We take you from the parade route, where people are bundled up for a chilly overnight wait, and to a behind-the-scenes peek at where the magic happens at float barns in...