Fiesta Parade Floats President Tim Estes at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale on Friday, June 21, 2024. Fiesta has been in the float-building business for decades and is being forced to close by the Tournament of Roses.he’s designed, Tim Estes, the resolute founder of Fiesta Parade Floats is no longer an authorized Tournament of Roses builder.
Fiesta Parade Floats President Tim Estes at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale on Friday, June 21, 2024. Fiesta has been in the float-building business for decades and is being forced to close by the Tournament of Roses. Fiesta Parade Floats President Tim Estes at Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale on Friday, June 21, 2024. Fiesta has been in the float-building business for decades and is being forced to close by the Tournament of Roses.
Estes said he was officially informed of the Tournament’s decision last month, but the demise of his beloved company was primarily financial and has been a long time coming — since before the pandemic. At its height, Fiesta employed as many as 30. The company was known for its adherence to using a lot of flowers in its designs, said Estes, and that’s what won them so many awards over the decades.
And, said Estes, he holds no ill-will toward the association and staffers, who have been communicating with him about the issues for months. Plus, because of the COVID-parade-pause, he lost many skilled workers. In 2022, he was finally able to ramp back up, but could only bring back about half of his staff.