SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE NAMED SWEEPSTAKES WINNER IN 136TH ROSE PARADE® FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
The Alliance’s Intricate Float Honored Historic Arrival of Giant Pandas
Source: San Diego Zoo Wildflfe Alliance
Photo by Emily Senninger, courtesy of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
January 2, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance won top honors at the 136th annual Rose Parade® Presented by Honda with a float commemorating the historic arrival of giant pandas. For the second consecutive year, the Alliance received the Sweepstakes Trophy given for most beautiful entry, encompassing float design, floral presentation and entertainment.
The San Diego Zoo’s float, “Friendship Across the Earth,” transported viewers across Asia’s magnificent ecosystems and honored Yun Chuan (“yoon chu-an”) and Xin Bao (“sing bao”), the first giant pandas to enter the United States in 21 years. Five-year-old male Yun Chuan and four-year-old female Xin Bao made their public debut at the San Diego Zoo on August 8, 2024—designated “California Panda Day” by Governor Gavin Newsom. The 2025 Pasadena Tournament of Roses theme, Best Day Ever, celebrated life’s best moments.