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Choose your float theme. Are you just having fun, or are you advertising a business or event? Many people get ahead of themselves by choosing decorations when the first step to creating a great parade float--picking your theme--cannot be overlooked. Once you have a theme, everything else will fall into place.
If you are going to be advertising an event or business, you might want to stick with associated colors or mascots. For instance, Girl Scouts can choose white and green, and use the Girl Scout insignia as their theme and build on that.
Consider the season as this could help you decorate your float in an eye-catching manner. Using the same example, the Girl Scouts could use their colors and the trademark most people would recognize. But if the parade is in the fall they could use fall leaves, fall colors and cookie boxes to decorate their float since the fall is Girl Scout Cookie season. -
Decorating your float is all about getting creative, but there are some materials that will help to make the process easier. Regardless of your theme or colors, floral sheeting is the way to go. You can buy this at most hobby stores, and it will give you color as well as a background to decorate with other items such as tissue paper.
Tissue paper will allow you to create flowers and add a lot of color without breaking the bank. You can buy squares or streamers, or buy large sheets that can be cut to size so you can use tissue paper in areas both big and small.
Chicken wire is a great material to use on parade floats. You can nail or staple it to the float to create dimension as well as a decorative surface. Fabric, posters and other materials can all be attached to create a polished look for your float.
Vinyl fringe is a great idea as it will allow you to add color to your float and make it look like it is actually floating down the pathway. The fringe comes in many colors to support your theme or color scheme and goes around the base of the float to cover the wheels. It's a great addition to any float. - Consider getting involved with those who are attending the parade. Instead of having all of the people stay on the float, have some people who are walking alongside the float in costumes that fit your theme. If you really want to get involved consider passing out candy, toys or little keepsakes that fit with your theme, business or event. Getting involved with the crowds will make your float very memorable.
