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    Home » Crafts » 13 Tips for Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas - Ultimate DIY Guide

    13 Tips for Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas - Ultimate DIY Guide

    Last Updated Date: October 22, 2022 | Published Date: May 5, 2020 by Seng Nickerson

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    Learn how to decorate a parade float with inexpensive float decor.

    I've signed myself up this school year to become a troop leader for two of my girls that are in a scout program. It will definitely take a lot of planning to do all of our service projects and fun crafts, but if it was anything like last year, it will be well worth it! I love seeing little leaders develop. While they are making memories and messes, I'm going to embrace the fun and joy that our troop has throughout the year.

    These next few weekends are all about school pride and homecoming! In every city and small town, communities are celebrating their school spirit as football season is upon us! This year, we did our first float as part of our hometown high school's homecoming parade. I wanted to gather up some of the lessons learned that I hope you can learn from as you endeavor in your own parade float!

    parade float tips and tricks homecoming for kids

    In This Post

    • How to Decorate with Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas
    • Bonus Tip for Audiences in Parade
    • Favorite Roundup of Inexpensive Parade Decor
    • Summary
    • Other Posts You Might Like

    How to Decorate with Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas

    #1. Get the Kids Involved

    Kids love decorating floats - so reach out to your group and plan out a date or two for decorating. You'll need supplies like paint, scissors, glue, markers and crayons. Let me just warn you, it can get quite messy! Having wipes on hand can make cleaning up spilled paint or glue a breeze while you are decorating!

    how to decorate a float parade

    #2. Add Fringe to Your Parade Float

    Fringe in your group's color provide a gorgeous and more professional look. It is an essential part of decorating your group's float! Here's my favorite type to use.

    Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas featured by topN US lifestyle blogger, Sengerson
    how to decorate a float parade

    Here are some other products you can use for your float as well.

    #3. Balloon Arches on your Parade Float

    Balloon arches can be made out of inexpensive flexible PVC tubing.

    My tip: Buy two PVC pipes, connect them and measure where you need to cut. Make sure that you cut it so that the connection point is not the center.

    how to decorate a float parade

    You'll need to blow up four balloons and tie them together in a cluster. Next, just twist and criss cross the balloons on the arch!

    If you don't want to go to the hardware store or make your own, check out a balloon arch kit.

    Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas featured by topN US lifestyle blogger, Sengerson

    #4. Make Signs for your Parade Float

    This is the easiest item for your group to decorate when everyone shows up to your location to decorate. Create some signs for people that are walking around your float and ON your float! Another older troop helped create this amazing sign! You can use a craft cutting machine to get this done.

    Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas featured by topN US lifestyle blogger, Sengerson

    #5. Yard Signs for Group Members

    This was something I saw on another float that are keeping in mind for next year. Instead of printing flimsy posters, print out yard signs for photos of your troop and/or team to put on the float. That way, the signs are durable and reusable! Get some yard signs here.

    how to decorate a float parade

    #6. Pomping and Chicken Wire

    You might want to wait on this if you have little ones, but it does make for awesome decor! I did a lot of pomping in college for floats. A LOT. You can either use chicken wire to STUFF the tissue in OR you can wrap the pomp around a marker and stick it in modge/podge onto the plyboard.

    Pomping is literally just flour and water, but you can also buy premade pomp paste.

    how to decorate a float parade
    chicke wire pomping
    chicken wire pomping
    chicken wire pomping

    #7. Parade Float Seating with Straw Bales

    We purchased six straw bales for around $40. I knew my little Kindergartners and first graders would complain about the scratchiness of them, so we threw moving blankets on top of the straw bales! You could easily

    how to decorate a float parade

    #8. Prepare Inexpensive Wheel Covers for your Parade Float

    Our troop sells cookies as their major form on fundraising. So we themed our tire and wheel covers with cookies! Just grab some of these heavy duty ties to attach them to the wheel.

    parade float wheel decor

    You could do something similar like helmets or baseballs. We made ours out of plywood and tied them using plastic ties.

    Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas featured by topN US lifestyle blogger, Sengerson

    #9. Stock your Parade Float with Candy and Necklaces

    Make sure you have a lot of candy and necklaces on hand to throw out! Make sure you let the kids know not to throw them all at the very beginning of the parade route. Bulk parade necklaces here.

    #10. Wear Your Uniforms

    This may be stating the obvious, but make sure all the kids wear their uniforms on the float! It will make for a more cohesive look.

    Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas featured by topN US lifestyle blogger, Sengerson

    These are my tried and true tips and tricks for doing your first float successfully.

    #11. Get a Sponsor for your Parade Float

    If you want to go all out and decorate your parade float without a big budget, try to ask for a business to sponsor you. If you agree to having their sign up as part of your parade, most businesses will be open to providing a budget in order for your group to decorate in order to advertise their business for them.

    how to decorate a float parade
    how to decorate a float parade
    how to decorate a float parade

    #12. Send Out Reminders for Parade Day

    Here are a few reminders you may want to send to your parade group in preparation for getting on the float during parade day.

    1. Ensure that everyone has gone to the bathroom prior to getting on the float.
    2. Everyone should have  their own candy and/or necklaces to throw.
    3. Rules are that only underhanded tosses are allowed.
    4. Bring your own drink that will last throughout the parade.
    5. To minimize the risk of kids getting sick, limit the consumption of candy on the actual float.
    6. Have some baby and antibacterial wipes in the case of a cleaning emergency.
    7. Have a First Aid Kit ready.

    #13. Types of Parades

    Now that you know all of the best tips and tricks for decorating a float for a parade, here are some parades that you should think about attending now that you have all the supplies:

    • Homecoming Parade
    • Church Parades
    • Small Town Parades
    • Kids Parades
    • Summer Parade
    • Independence Day, Patriotic, or Fourth of July Parade
    • Christmas Parade
    • St. Patrick's Day Parade
    • Mardi Gras Parade
    • Winter Parade
    • Royalty Parade
    • Spirit Parade

    #14. Get Haybales for Seating

    Getting haybales for seating (and potentially covering them up with blankets for comfort) is a great way to get a lot of kids on the float.

    parade float straw bales

    Bonus Tip for Audiences in Parade

    how to decorate a float parade

    Have a sign that says:

    • Make this shot
    • One for the home team
    • I bet you can't make this

    Have a laundry basket or a kids basketball hoop - you'll be amazed by how much candy gets thrown into these baskets.

    how to decorate a float parade

    Favorite Roundup of Inexpensive Parade Decor

    Here is a round up of my favorite products that you can use to decorate a parade float.

    Summary

    I hope this provides some great ideas on how to decorate your parade float inexpensively! The best decorated parade floats start with a great parade that you want to be part of. Once you identify the parade, get your creativity going to make the float something that stands out. Creating your parade float doesn't have to be expensive. With these tips and tricks, you'll have a blast decorating your parade float!

    parade float tips and tricks

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    decorate parade float
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michael Barnett

      January 21, 2023 at 8:03 am

      Hi Seng. In #8 you wrote "So we themed our tire and wheel covers with cookies! Just grab some of these heavy duty ties to attach them to the wheel."

      Can you please detail how you attached the circles to the wheels with the ties? It's not clear from the photos.

      Thank you.
      Michael

      Reply
    2. Megan

      July 16, 2022 at 7:57 pm

      You forgot Pride parade! That’s why I came to your blog looking for ideas.

      Reply
    3. Belinda Needham

      February 25, 2022 at 1:56 pm

      Hello! Beautiful float and wonderful tips! I’m very excited to try this for a local parade. How did you anchor the arch to the trailer? Using the plywood/flange/metal conduit method? Or another due to room for the girls to sit? Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Courtney Buteau

      September 27, 2017 at 7:08 am

      Decorating a parade float seems like so much fun! This is something I've never done, but would love to help my daughter's Daisy troop if we ever got the chance. I can imagine it can get quite messy. Good thing you had an easy cleanup with the wipes! 🙂 #client

      Reply

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