How do I Make a Fairy Tale Parade Float?
Parade floats are fun to make but take a lot of planning to execute. A fairy tale theme is great because there are so many fairy tales to consider, from kings and princesses to witches and cuddly bears. You could even put several fairy tales on the same float if they follow a common theme. Make your float the best by investing time into each aspect.
Things You'll Need
- Trailer
- Cardboard
- Wood
- Nails
- Screws
- Paint
- Costumes
- Sign
- Decorating supplies
Instructions
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1
Decide which type of trailer you are using for the float. The two most common types are flat hay trailers and lowboy trailers. Lowboys have sides that stand about a foot tall. You will have to take these into account when building your float.
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2
Decide on the fairy tale that you are going to depict. Princesses, such as Cinderella or Snow White, are popular. You also can do The Three Pigs, Rumplestiltskin or The Three Billy Goats Gruff. If you like, you could even combine several fairy tales on one trailer, especially if they have a common theme.
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3
Build a structure in the middle of the float. You can use either cardboard or wood, depending on how much time and money you want to spend. If you are very ambitious, you can make it large enough for people to stand inside and wave through openings. Make sure the structure goes with your fairy tale; if you are depicting Hansel and Gretel, the structure could be the gingerbread house.
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4
Dress people as characters in the fairy tale. They can either ride the float or walk alongside on the parade route. This draws visual interest and gets the crowd participating with the float. Have the characters wave or toss candy, beads or other trinkets to the crowd, especially small children.
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5
Perform a small skit if the float is supposed to stop at any time during the parade. You can include music or just act out a portion of the fairy tale that is well known.
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6
Include a sign on your float telling the crowd the name of the fairy tale that you are depicting and the name of your club or organization. You want to be sure that it is clearly visible but does not ruin any part of the float decor.
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Tips & Warnings
Fill in empty spaces in the float with plants or greenery. They are lightweight and will convey a sense of fairy tale forests.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit fairy tale towers on old building image by thomas owen from Fotolia.com
