San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance won the Grand Marshal Award at the 137th annual Rose Parade® Presented by Honda with a float inspired by the architects of the earth—elephants. The Grand Marshal Award is given for most outstanding creative concept and float design. 

The award-winning float, “Giant Strides Together,” transported viewers to the all-new Denny Sanford Elephant Valley. The largest and most transformative project in San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s 109-year history, Elephant Valley will open on March 5, 2026, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California.

As the architects of the earth, elephants move trees and carve corridors used by people and other wildlife across the savanna. It’s a beautiful balance between all who inhabit this dynamic landscape—making giant strides together and celebrating the magic in teamwork.

Every day, countless guests from around the globe experience the transformative power of conservation at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Here, generations encounter once-in-a-lifetime moments among nature that transcend time and humanity. 

Trumpeting at the forefront of the float is elephant matriarch Swazi. Her thunderous arrival celebrates the beginning of a new year as her gentle spirit leads the way. As Swazi sprays water from her trunk with excitement down the parade route, beside her, the playful antics of little Mkhaya and her mom Umngani tugging on each other remind us of the innermost bonds we share with one another. And sauntering among iconic 21-foot-tall baobob trees, Swazi’s daughter Nisa casually picks up flowers while flapping her ears along their journey. 

Delicately prancing alongside Mkhaya, Umngani, and Nisa, crowned cranes Goldie and Taji fluff their extravagant feathered headpieces and famous rosy, red cheeks as they prepare to take flight. 

Galloping among dramatic cycads and lush bamboo, zebras Holly and Leia glance side-to-side atop a colorful ridgeline as water rushes beneath.

From the second-floor terrace, Mkutano House offers sweeping views of thriving wildlife, cascading waterfalls, and vibrant talking sticks adorned with intricate beadwork patterns inspired by Kenyan artisans. Meaning “gathering” in Swahili, it celebrates the profound connection between wildlife and people living together on the savanna.

Across the 57-foot float we get a glimpse of the more than 1.3 million individual plants that are cared for by horticulturists at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park each day. More than 3,700 diverse plant species are part of this accredited botanical garden and arboretum and are vital to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s ongoing conservation efforts worldwide. Individual plants meticulously grown and delicately propagated at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park—including African Acacias and several varieties of grasses from across the savanna—were transported to Pasadena and are part of the float, bringing this botanical dream to life.

As the lyrics of “Beautiful” illustrate, color and beauty abound. From the trumpeting of matriarch Swazi to the intimate bond between Mkhaya and Umngani, and the fluttering of feathers as Taji takes flight—our planet is a kaleidoscope and each of us are pivotal to the tapestry of this global mosaic. Opening in March, Elephant Valley at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park will immerse guests into these life-changing moments, to experience what it’s like to live alongside these gentle giants, to roam among them, and to become one with the largest land animals on Earth.

Riding among this lavish living landscape are Mindy Albright and Kristi Burtis, San Diego Zoo Safari Park team members who have dedicated their lives caring for Swazi, Mkhaya, Umngani, Nisa, Taji, Goldie, Holly, and Leia. Alongside them are San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance scientist Kirstie Ruppert as well as and Alliance partner and Kenyan beadwork artisan, Salma Lekoomet. These women are making giant strides together—protecting the world’s most vulnerable wildlife—and creating sustainable solutions for elephants and local communities to coexist with each other. 

They are joined by the next generation of world changers, immersed in this larger-than-life moment and surrounded by a montage of colorful beads. As each individual bead sparkles down the parade route, the heartbeats of a billion wildlife allies across the globe join them—creating a ripple effect of infinite hope and possibility for a brighter tomorrow—celebrating the magic in teamwork.