How to Make a Cheap Parade Float

Making a cheap parade float may require some creative ways to cut costs.

Parade floats are a tradition for some events. Unfortunately, making a parade float can be a difficult and expensive endeavor. As such, it pays to know how to save as much money as possible and to assemble your parade float with as little strain on the pocketbook as you can. You'll have to get creative with your solutions sometimes, but creativity should be par for the course for a float.

Things You'll Need

• Cheap supplies
• Design strategy
• Hand tools (saws, hammers, screwdrivers, drill drivers, etc.)

Instructions

1. Figure out what resources you have access to. Cheap supplies can be bought at home improvement stores and via the Internet, but it helps if you know what you have at your disposal before you start buying anything else. If you have access to lumber, paper mache, wire mesh, old newspaper, craft supplies, paint or anything else you could potentially use to build your float, then you should make a list of those items.

2. Brainstorm ideas for your float based on what materials you have access to. For instance, if you have fake palm trees and fluffy cotton you could do a Christmas in July theme. Alternatively if you have the fluffy cotton and access to musicians, you might be able to create a float that looks like heaven, especially if your musicians can play the harp. Ask yourself what imagery you want to create, and what point you want to make with your float. Anything that will make your float memorable and convey your message (e.g., smoking is bad, you can trust our bank, go to church, etc.) should be considered.

3. Assemble your float. Once you've come up with an idea and everyone on your team is committed to it, then it's time to start building. Make sure that you have someone with experience in construction overseeing the float, and that you use as few resources as possible to create the biggest effect you can. Once you've finished the construction, make sure that you give your float a test run so that you're sure it does exactly what it's supposed to do.

References

• Liberty-Flag: Parade Float Making Supplies
• Parade Float Stuff: Parade Float Stuff