(December 20, 2019) TORRENCE, Calif. — On Jan. 1 American Honda will mark the beginning of a new decade with the lead float in the 131st Rose Parade presented by Honda. The company’s float entry, “Our Hope for the Future,” celebrates the optimism created by the spirit, dreams and vitality of children.

Decorated with roughly 30,000 flowers, the 55-foot long float will feature six children pursuing their dreams through a variety of activities. Each child expresses a different passion: space exploration, environmental stewardship, medical science, the arts, and scientific research.

“Honda believes everyone, especially children, should follow their dreams,” said Steve Morikawa, vice president of Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility, American Honda. “By nurturing children’s passions and encouraging them to achieve their dreams, there is hope for a bright future.”

The float’s characters represent the limitless imagination of children and the belief that anything is possible. At the front, a child dressed like a doctor lives out her dream of helping others heal. On the deck of the float, a young musician plays his saxophone for the crowd. Rising 30 feet into the air on a burst of stars is an artist using her talents to create a futuristic vehicle. A young scientist conducts an experiment at the center of the float while a scuba diver admires sea creatures toward the back. The float is topped by a youthful astronaut, literally reaching for the stars, with planets in orbit around her.

The float deck will be covered in pink, yellow, orange and red roses and strawflower. The children will be decorated in macaroon coconut, onion seed, ornamental grasses, cranberry seed, ground rice, seaweed and a mix of spices, among other organic materials.

Float riders will include the 2019 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge national champions from Spelman College and Rachel Garcia, the winner of the 2019 Honda Cup which is awarded by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards.

Honda will offer parade attendees and at-home viewers alike the opportunity to engage with customized social media content on Jan. 1. As the first automaker to use Snapchat’s Marker Tech augmented reality technology in the U.S., Honda will provide an immersive, interactive world where the “Our Hope for the Future” float comes to life.

When Snapchatters along the parade route point Snapchat at the official Rose Parade logo, the Snapchat Lens will trigger a three-dimensional experience using imagery from the “Our Hope for the Future” float. At-home Snapchatters will first need to scan the Snapcode before using a Snapchat Lens to launch the experience.

Viewers will also be able to use Honda’s Snapchat World Lens to enhance their Rose Parade experience. Stars will sparkle, fireworks will explode and the characters on the Honda float will be animated. The World Lens will also feature ambient sounds from the parade.