Gayle Anderson continues our series of reports on the Rose Parade Floats being constructed and decorated by Artistic Entertainment Services (AES). This Azusa based company is handling 16 of the 2025 Rose Parade Floats. On December 27th she showed us the floral materials that will be used on the floats being produced for the UPS store and Visit Mississippi.
The UPS Store celebrates their 7th return to the Rose Parade with one of the tallest and most visually immersive floats of the year , featuring the float named, “Helping Dreams Take Flight,” which highlights the company’s support for empowering youngsters with Junior Achievement USA and thousands The UPS Store franchise owners.
The float encourages all viewers to dream big and not be afraid to take a big leap and soar. The float will take viewers back in time, 200 million years ago, to the Age of the Dinosaurs, and features a colossal mother pterodactyl watching her two babies take their exhilarating first flight. Just as the mother observes her offspring leaving the nest, The UPS Store proudly encourages the aspirations of its franchise owners, their small business customers, and school-aged students.
Through support from The UPS Store “Start Small, Grow Big” program, Junior Achievement USA provides nationwide educational opportunities for young individuals to help them succeed in their futures.
For additional information about The UPS Store, visit TheUPSStore.com. Follow The UPS Store on social media at @TheUPSStore, facebook.com/TheUPSStore, and instagram.com/TheUPSStore.
As the “Birthplace of America’s Music”, Mississippi lifts and celebrates musical “kings” to kick off a year of celebration in the 2025 Rose Parade! Towering titans BB King and Elvis Presley invite us down a rhythmic visual journey through a collage of Mississippi landmarks that continue to honor our rich history of blues music.
Mississippians and emerging artists Chapel Hart and Brandon Bennett will grace the float stage for a mashup of hits by historic musicians BB King and Elvis Presley.
BB King and Elvis Presley rise above a rhythmic river of musical landmarks that transverse across the state of Mississippi. Musical notes, magnolias and instruments lay the foundation for blues trail markers, iconic signage of historic venues, and Grammy awards. The floats leading men will “reach out a hand” and invite the audience to sit down for a masterclass in America’s music. America’s Got Talent legends Chapel Hart and Elvis impersonator Brandon Bennett will perform a 4-song mashup of hits by BB King and Elvis, including “The Thrill is Gone,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “When Love Came to Town,” and “Hound Dog.” Joining the performers on the float will be The First Family of Mississippi.
Elvis Presley and B.B. King, who would be celebrating their 90th and 100th birthdays in 2025, respectively.
To learn, more visit: www.VisitMississippi.org.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Gayle Anderson at 323-460-5732, email Gayle at Gayle.Anderson@KTLA.com, Facebook: Gayle Anderson, Instagram and Threads: KTLAChannel5Gayle, X (Formerly Known As Twitter:) KTLA5Gayle and KTLAGayle.bsky.social.
Gayle Anderson reports for the KTLA 5 Morning News Dec. 27, 2024.
