The Visit Mississippi float at the 136th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, has earned the prestigious Past Presidents Award for its outstanding innovation and use of floral and non-floral materials.
This marks Mississippi’s first-ever appearance in the parade. Governor Tate Reeves expressed pride in the achievement, highlighting the state’s growth in tourism, economic development, and education.
The float celebrated Mississippi’s rich cultural history, especially as the birthplace of American music, paying tribute to musical icons Elvis Presley and B.B. King, who would have celebrated significant birthdays in 2025.
Performances by the country trio Chapel Hart and Elvis tribute artist Brandon Bennett were featured alongside the float, with the Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South marching band leading the procession.
Rochelle Hicks, director of Visit Mississippi, emphasized the importance of sharing the state’s cultural legacy with a global audience and thanked sponsors such as Visit Jackson, the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, Coastal Mississippi, and Visit Tupelo.