Louisiana Office of Tourism, under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, won the 2023 Showmanship Award during the 134th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., for the “Celebration Riverboat” float. The award recognizes the float for most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment, which featured a live performance by Country Music Association Award winner, 2022 Academy of Country Music New Female of the Year winner, and Louisiana music ambassador Lainey Wilson from Baskin. She performed mid-parade for millions of viewers nationally and internationally as an invitation to visit the state.

The 134th Rose Parade was Louisiana’s second year participating, fresh off last year’s float winning the Wrigley Legacy Award and encouraging millions around the world to visit the state.

“I am extremely proud of our Office of Tourism team, six convention and visitors bureaus and 22 Louisiana Ambassadors that partnered with us in this endeavor representing a pivotal time for our state in ‘Turning The Corner,’ an appropriate theme for the New Year,”  said Nungesser. “This is our invitation to visitors worldwide to come see us, and I hope everyone in Louisiana is as proud of our state’s showing and of winning this award as I am.”

Co-sponsors of the award-winning float and riders were Visit Baton Rouge, Visit Lafayette, Tangipahoa Convention and Visitors Bureau, Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Visitors Bureau, Plaquemines Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau, Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau.