Decorating a Small Parade Float

Successfully decorating a small float begins with planning.

To successfully build a small float for a parade, you’ll need lots of planning and friends to help. Begin this process–including determining the amount of money you have to spend on your float–at least a few months before the parade. Planning and building a float can be fun, but it also requires commitment.

Things You'll Need

• Flatbed trailer
• Towing vehicle
• Plywood
• Skill-saw
• Jig-saw
• Measuring tape
• Pencils
• Hammer
• Nails
• Props
• Seating
• Backdrop
• Vinyl floral sheeting
• Signs
• Trimming
• Scissors
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Markers
• Fringe
• Festooning

Instructions

Planning

1. Gather those who will help you build the float. During the meeting discuss a theme for the float, your budget to spend on decorations, a list of what needs to be done and a schedule for getting the float built.

2. Sketch the design for the float and determine exactly what materials, props, decorations, motors and mechanical devices will be needed.

3. Secure the trailer and a place protected from the weather-–such as a barn or garage–where the building and decorating of the float can take place. Ensure the float can be stored in this location until the day of the parade.

Building

1. Cover the trailer bed with plywood.

2. Measure the distance from the trailer bed to the ground, minus 15 inches, to determine the size of the apron that will go around the trailer. Then measure the length of the trailer's sides and the length of the back of the trailer.

3. Cut three pieces of plywood, one for the right side of trailer, one for the left side and one for the back of the trailer to the measurements taken in Step 2.

4. Nail the plywood cut in Step 3 to the plywood on the trailer bed to create the apron.

5. Secure props, an area for seating and backdrops to the plywood on the trailer bed.

Decorating

1. Cover the float with vinyl floral sheeting using staples.

2. Secure trimming, decorations and signs to the float. Ideas for decoration and trim might include balloons, streamers, tissue paper, flowers and garland. If the float is for a holiday parade, decorate with the appropriate holiday ornaments -- a Christmas tree, Easter eggs or shamrocks for example. You'll want to make signs to identify the club, organization or individual your float is representing in the parade. These can be made with poster board and markers and attached to the float with staples.

3. Attach fringe around the apron to conceal the wheels of the trailer.

4. Attach festooning to the float. Festooning is used to cover seams and to blend areas where colors or surfaces meet.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate your float from the top down.

• When decorating remember that the driver will need to have visibility of the parade route and should be able to see riders.

• Take your float for a test run to ensure all decorations and props are securely attached and stable.

• Plan your route to the parade to ensure you won’t be passing under low-hanging branches or through underpasses that might damage the float.

• Pack a repair kit for parade day. This way you can repair any damage that occurs in route, before the parade begins.

• You don’t know what the weather will be like on the day of the parade. It’s a good idea to have a roll of plastic handy–just in case you have to protect your creation from the elements.

References

• Astro Parade Float Materials: How to Build a Parade Float
• CRS Enterprises: Our Float Help Page
• Ashland University: Homecoming Parade Float Builders Manual