Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is partnering with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® to celebrate the upcoming home video release of Wicked. The blockbuster film, which is one of my favorites of the year, is coming to home video on December 31st. To celebrate the release, a Wicked float, created by Phoenix Decorating Company, will join the 136th Rose Parade® on New Year’s Day.
Named “Defying Gravity” in honor of one of the most beloved and iconic songs in the film and musical, the float will feature Elphaba and Glinda and the Emerald City. The float will stand 24 feet tall, be 18 feet wide and 55 feet long and feature an estimated 76,748 flowers.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing the float in all its glory, as well as all the other festivities during the Rose Parade® to kick off 2025. Check out all the details on the float below.
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Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® Celebrate Wicked in the 136th Rose Parade®
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is thrilled to partner with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® to bring the magic of WICKED to the 136th Rose Parade®, celebrating the highly anticipated in-home release which is available exclusively on Digital platforms to purchase or rent December 31st. The float appropriately entitled, “Defying Gravity,” features larger-than-life depictions of the two main characters, Elphaba and Glinda, poised on either side of the Emerald City, commemorating their profound friendship as they journey to the magnificent land of Oz. Created in collaboration with the talented team at Phoenix Decorating Company, the float includes captivating elements that viewers will love, such as a motion-activated Elphaba, Glinda’s sparkling bubbles, and a shimmering Emerald City.
Expertly directly by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu, WICKED is the untold story of the witches of Oz and stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman who has yet to discover her true power, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet at Shiz University and forge an unlikely friendship – before their lives take different paths following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Their extraordinary adventures will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
The WICKED float in the Rose Parade captures the heart of this story, celebrating friendship, self-discovery, and the vibrant, fantastical world of Oz in a dazzling visual spectacle that truly defies gravity.
FLOAT DETAILS:
- Height: 24 feet
- Width: 18 feet
- Length: 55 feet
- Estimated Number of Flowers Used: 76,748
- Builder: Phoenix
Floral and Design Highlights
- Elphaba:
- Hat and Cape: Black seaweed and fine ground onion seed.
- Hair and Nails: Black onion powder, curly seaweed, fine ground parsley.
- Dress: Black seaweed, onion seed, and light grey lettuce seed.Broom: Handle crafted from coffee grounds, walnut shell, coco stix, and sisal rope.
- Glinda:
- Crown and Wand: White fine cut everlasting and pink strawflower.
- Dress: Pink carnations with detailed bodice and skirt accents.
- Emerald City:
- Constructed with white button mums, Kermit mums, gold flax seed, mung beans, and green split peas.
- Accents of green parsley flakes and brown coffee.
- Yellow Brick Road: Made with fine cut yellow strawflower.
- Tulip Fields: Red, hot pink, lavender, and orange tulips alongside walnut shell paths.
- Sculpted Tulips: Dark purple, orange, and yellow strawflowers with green ti leaves.
- Cherry Blossom Trees: Shades of pink dendrobs with coffee-colored trunks.
- Grimmerie Books: Crafted with redwood bark, sparkles of everlasting, and crème paper bark pages.
This intricate blend of floral artistry and creative design brings the magic of WICKED to life, making the float an exciting centerpiece of the 136th Rose Parade presented by Honda.
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
