Community Float Building Manual
OVERVIEW 2
IMPORTANT LINKS 2
TAKE HOME AN AWARD 2
THE 7 BASIC STEPS 2
FLOAT BUILDING GUIDE 3
DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET 3
SECURE A TOW VEHICLE & TRAILER 3
Tow Vehicle 3
Choose Your Trailer 3
CREATE A DESIGN / DEVELOP A BUILD PLAN 4
Design Your Float 4
Design Tips 4
IDENTIFY BUILD MATERIALS & TOOLS NEEDED 5
Commonly Used / Approved Materials 5
Materials to use with caution 5
SELECT A BUILD LOCATION 5
ORDER DECORATION MATERIALS & SIGNAGE 6
BUILD YOUR FLOAT! 6
HELPFUL RESOURCES 6
Tutorials 6
Design Ideas 6
Float Supplies 6
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OVERVIEW
CONGRATULATIONS! You have taken the first step towards making a Community Float
for the Junior Orange Bowl Parade. This year’s theme is “Miracle on the MIle: A Holiday
Parade and Celebration”. If you downloaded this file, you have probably never built a float
before, so we have compiled this document to help get you started and reduce your
anxiety to a manageable level.
What is a Community Float?
Community Floats are floats designed and created by
community organizations that are participating in the parade. Unlike our major sponsor
floats which are much larger (8’w x 35’ long!) Community Floats are half-size “mini-floats”
that are typically 6-8’ wide by 12-15’ long, and easily towed behind a personal vehicle. They
are an aordable option for smaller organizations who want to have a strong visual
presence at the parade, either as a stand-alone unit or to enhance an existing unit such
as a walking or performing group.
IMPORTANT LINKS
PARADE GUIDELINES (PDF)
PARADE UNIT APPLICATION
PARADE WAIVER
TAKE HOME AN AWARD
The judges will award points for each entry based on creativity, costumes, and
entertainment value. As you're designing, think about which award you'd like to put on
your mantle and push your design to its creative limits! All community float units
marching in the parade will be judged in five categories, with the winner each category
receiving $500 per award:
Community Float Awards:
● Best Costumes
● Best Use of Holiday Theme
● Best Live Musical Performance
● Best Community Spirit
● Best Overall
Judging and Selection of Winners will
take place immediately prior to the start
of the parade, from 4:00 - 4:30 pm in the
staging area. Winning floats will then
proceed down Miracle Mile with a banner
in front of the unit announcing their
award.
FLOAT BUILDING GUIDE
On the following pages, we have broken down each of the 7 float-building essentials to
provide a step-by-step guide to help you along the way. There is also a Helpful
Resources section at the end with links to assist you in finding vendors, watching YouTube
tutorials and ordering specialty materials.
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THE 7 BASIC STEPS
Float building is much easier than it sounds and yes, YOU CAN DO IT! So, let’s get started
and have some fun! There are 7 basic steps to creating your Community Float:
1. Determine your Budget
2. Secure a Tow Vehicle & Trailer
3. Create Your Design & Develop a Build Plan
4. Identify Build Materials & Tools Needed
5. Select a Build Location
6. Order Decoration Materials & Signage
7. Build Your Float!
1) DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET
The cost of building a custom float will vary depending on how big your float is, how many
moving parts, specialty materials and other elements like sound systems or special
eects are included. Most community floats can be created for $1500 or less; it is even
possible to create a float for only a few hundred dollars if you get donated materials or
have items already on hand. Are you on a really limited budget? That’s okay! Sometimes
free and/or upcycled materials can make the best float base. Get creative with
cardboard, paint, glitter, tissue paper and dollar store items. Go on a treasure hunt in
your garage for hula hoops, pool noodles, holiday lights and other items that you can
repurpose. Bear in mind that the bigger your float, the more surface area you need to
cover, so if your budget is small, try to design around the colors and materials that you
already have on hand. Materials Estimator
2) SECURE A TOW VEHICLE & TRAILER
Tow Vehicle
The first step is to find a friend with a pickup truck or van with a hitch to pull your float.
Make sure the trailer hitch matches the hitch ball size on your trailer. Confirm and test
electrical hook up to the trailer lights. Check to make sure the tow load does not exceed
the vehicle tow capacity. If you plan to connect lights, a sound system, inflatable
decorations or anything else that uses a lot of power, you will also need either a small,
portable generator or a power inverter connected to your vehicle (be sure to select the
appropriate inverter for your vehicle and power needs).
Choose Your Trailer
Next, determine the trailer you will use; either one you own, borrow from a friend, or rent
from a local provider like U-Haul. The easiest option is using a trailer you already have
access to. Suggested minimum size: 6’ wide x 8’ long (1-2 riders), but if you have a larger
trailer that is better. There are a wide variety of trailer styles available; they can have
metal or wood platform bases, removable or fixed side rails, ramps/no ramps and more.
Boat and ATV trailers can also be used by adding ¾” plywood on top to create a base.
Whatever trailer you decide to use, be sure to keep in mind SAFETY FIRST. Important
notes:
● If you will have riders, be sure a secure, fixed handhold is available for each
person.
● How will riders get on/o the float? Make sure you have safe access!
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● If building a wood base, make sure all areas are supported and can hold the
weight of what you are attaching and/or people who will be standing or sitting
on it.
● Use your own best judgement based on the total number and age of your
riders.
If you don’t own a trailer or know someone with one you can borrow, you can rent one
from a local provider. For example, U-Haul has a 6’ x 12’ Utility Trailer that rents for around
$35/day. Smaller trailers can be used, but 6x12 is the best for parade size. U-Haul utility
trailers come either with a ramp which can be covered and turned into a back “wall” of
the float, or without a ramp which is easier to get riders on/o. If renting, be sure to
reserve your trailer well in advance, as December is a busy month. We recommend you
pick up at least 1 day prior to the parade (Saturday) and decorate on Saturday and add
any final details on Sunday. Return either Sunday night or Monday morning. Budget
around $100-120 for rental costs including insurance.
NOTE: If you plan to have riders on a U-Haul trailer:
● Perimeter railings are low; do not let small children ride without adult supervision.
● Have riders sit on a bench, on the trailer deck, or stand in the
middle
of the trailer
for safety
● U-Haul trailer decks are corrugated sheet metal (like hurricane shutter panels) so
you may want to add a plywood base (cut sheets to fit) to make it more stable.
3) CREATE A DESIGN / DEVELOP A BUILD PLAN
Design Your Float
Now that you have the logistics under control, you can design your float.
Why is this not
the first step?
Because building a community float on a moderate budget means your
design will likely be determined or at least influenced by the trailer and materials you are
able to get donated.
Get the team together to come up with your
concept. The parade theme is “Miracle on the Mile'',
emphasizing all of the miracles that happen during
the holidays. Your interpretation of this theme,
combined with your organization’s branding,
strategic goals and community message will help
drive your overall design. Tap into the creative
people on your team for ideas! Sketch out a few of
the better concepts to visualize your design and
vote on the best one - or make it a competition to
get your team really excited!
Design Tips
● Choose at least 3 colors:
○ Base (
main color=white
) - the main deck of the trailer and largest area of the
float.
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○ Fringe (
gold
) - the part that hangs over the edge of the float and hides the
wheels
○ Twist (
green
) - the garland-type edging that provides visual separation between
the base and the fringe.
● Delight the senses: Add lights, music, color, texture, moving parts, special eects,
etc. to make your float as exciting and memorable as possible!
● Include at least one LARGE feature element to capture visual attention. It is better
to have 1-3 large pieces that make a bold statement than to have a lot of little
decorations that will get “lost” visually.
● Viewers have a 360⁰ view as your float passes by, so cover all visible surfaces.
● Keep it Simple. The best designs are visually clean and have a straightforward,
simple message. Signage should be easy to read, riders should be clearly visible
and your theme should be obvious within seconds to judges.
4) IDENTIFY BUILD MATERIALS & TOOLS NEEDED
The good news is that you don’t need any special tools to build a float! You will, however,
need materials for your float, so here is a handy Materials Estimator to help you
determine what you will need to order. Don’t forget to look around to see what you
already have or ask for material donations. Some common tools you may need are
hammers, screwdrivers, drills and staple guns, but depending on your design you may
also need a saw or other more advanced tools.
Commonly Used / Approved Materials:
● Plywood - Great for creating the base/deck for your float!
Use a lighter wood for
sides/decorative elements, like lauan (“door skin”) or other similar thin materials.
● Cardboard - Create large shapes easily using recycled cardboard boxes and duct
tape. Be sure to cover cardboard to protect it from moisture
● Plastic Sheeting - Cover large areas quickly in a solid color. Rolls are available at
Party City or can be ordered on Amazon. Clear packing tape can be used to
connect plastic pieces to each other.
● Floral Sheeting - Look like a pro! Floral or petal sheeting will give your float a
wonderful textured look. Available in many colors, it comes in a sheet 3’W x 15’L for
around $30.
● Zip Ties - Awesome for attaching plastic sheeting to metal trailers and attaching
door skin (lauan) or cardboard panels to create large shapes. Also useful for
attaching decorative items to railings or securing light strands. Found in any
hardware store or Amazon.com.
Materials to use with caution:
● Clear packing tape does not stick when it gets wet, except on plastic - avoid using it
to attach items to metal, cardboard or wood surfaces.
● Paper products (cardboard, poster board, tissue paper) - in rainy weather, these
materials can sag or even dissolve. If building/storing outside, attach decorative
items the day of the parade.
● Anything with sharp edges or that may cause an injury to a rider should be
padded (or avoided)
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5) SELECT A BUILD LOCATION
You will need a space large enough to accommodate the trailer width and length as well
as the final height of the float. Allow at least 4’ of space around the perimeter of the
trailer frame for people to easily build and decorate it. A residential garage is perfectly
fine but a warehouse is fantastic if you have access to one. If you don’t have a covered
location (i.e. you are building in a backyard or driveway location) be sure to cover the float
overnight to protect the float electronics and decor from moisture.
6) ORDER DECORATION MATERIALS & SIGNAGE
At least 2 weeks prior to your scheduled build date, you will want to order all of your float
materials and signage. Allow plenty of time for pandemic shipment delays, especially if
you are planning to use floral sheeting, twist garland and fringe since they are not as
readily available. As soon as you know what decoration materials you need, order them
just to be on the safe side.
Order your unit banners directly through our preferred vendor, FastSigns:
Contact details and discount code coming soon!
7) BUILD YOUR FLOAT!
Grab some snacks, crank up the tunes and assemble your team for a day of fun!
We suggest a minimum of 4 hours to assemble your float if you have a solid plan and all
tools and materials available. You may need more than this, however, if you: have a large
float, a small number of volunteers, include music/lights, or forget to bring any materials!
Plan ahead!
● Ask volunteers to bring a bag lunch and drinks for their personal use
● Assign roles to volunteers based on their skill levels (tools, paint, electrical, etc.)
● Structure your day for success!
A sample build day agenda is included below:
10:00 AM Volunteers Arrive / Briefing: show design, assign roles
10:30 AM Break into teams, assemble main base structure
11:00 AM Add electrical for sound/lighting
11:30 AM Cover all base elements in floral or plastic sheeting
12:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:00 PM Add remaining decorative elements & attach signage
1:40 PM Clean up / return tools
2:00 PM
Thank everyone for coming!
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HELPFUL RESOURCES
Tutorials
● How to Build a Parade Float
● Top 5 Tips for Building an Award
Winning Float (video)
● Making large scale art cheap:
parade float build (video)
● Charlotte Pride Float Building
Handbook (detailed PDF resource)
● Low-Boy Trailer DIY design
instructions
● Hay Trailer DIY design instructions
Design Ideas
● Astro Parade: Float Design Ideas
● Pinterest
● Parade float flowers DIY (video)
● Valley Decorating
Float Supplies
● Hardware/Lumber Stores
● Party City
● Michael’s / Craft Stores
● Dollar Stores
● Amazon float decorations
● Parade Float Supplies Now
● Parade Float Stu
● Stumps Party Supply
● Oriental Trading
● Anderson's Float supplies
● Party Value
● Fun Carnival
● eMardi Gras Beads
● Valley Decorating
● Mardi Gras Outlet
● Liberty Flag
● PromNite.com
● Bronners Display
NOTES:
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ENTER YOUR TIMELINE
DATES BELOW
December 12
Staging 2PM - 4PM
Parade Start 5PM
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