How to Create a Christmas Parade Float

Use fun decorations for your Christmas parade float.

Parade floats fascinate crowds with their messages, creative themes and impressive designs. By creating a Christmas parade float, you have the chance to convey to an audience what the Christmas season means to you. So for the next Christmas season, design and create a float to represent a message that you want to share with your town.

Things You'll Need

• Hay trailer
• Staple gun
• Nails
• 1-inch by 1-inch construction wood
• 2-inch by 2-inch construction wood
• 1-inch by 1-inch plywood
• 2-inch by 2-inch plywood
• Floral sheeting grass mat rolls, 25-yard length
• Festoon ropes, 48-inch length
• Sequin rolls, 25-yard length
• Fringe rolls
• Extra long fringe rolls
• Decorations and props

Instructions

Planning float

1. Familiarize yourself with rules and regulations for building floats, along with fees, deadlines, float transportation and float transportation. Consult the chairman of the parade for specific guidelines.

2. Gather a group of people to work on the float. Split the group into teams and assign individual tasks for them to complete. For example, make one team in charge of creating the frame for the float, and another team in charge of props and costumes.

   Find people who are knowledgeable about construction and electrical wiring if you want to create an elaborate float with moving mechanisms.

3. Choose a float design based on the theme of the parade. For a Christmas theme, choose symbols that are associated with Christmas and winter, like stars, presents, angels and Santa Claus.

   Create a float design that includes specific materials and mechanisms. Make sure the whole group agrees upon the design.

4. Figure out the amount of materials you need based on the size of the hay trailer.

Construct and design the float

1. Assign someone familiar with construction to build a skirt frame for the hay trailer using the wood and plywood pieces. Make sure the sides can fold onto the bed of the trailer for easy transportation. End the skirt frame 16 inches from the ground.

2. Determine the amount of floral sheeting needed in square yards by multiplying the length and width of the areas you want to cover. Cut the sheeting. Attach it to the bottom of the skirt frame and staple it to the trailer bed.

3. Determine the amount of festooning and fringe needed by calculating the total perimeter of the trailer. Staple the fringe to the bottom of the skirt frame. Use the festooning to hide the seam between the floral sheeting and the fringe. Staple the sequin rolls to the float in decorative designs.

4. Cover the trailer bed with grass sheeting. Attach the float props and decorations with nails and staples.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you choose materials that meet the regulations for the parade before you begin construction.

• Don't choose a theme or props that will offend the audience. Avoid controversial and anti-religious themes.

References

• Valley Decorating: How to Build a Parade Float