How to Decorate a Float for a Christmas Parade

A Christmas parade brings the community together around dazzling displays that go by in a pretty procession of holiday cheer. The Christmas parade float is a staple of the Christmas parade, with its shimmering platform showcasing Christmas decorating splendor for all to see. We had the wonderful opportunity to share the community spirit and represent the Christmas Designers brand at the Sherman Christmas parade last season. We learned a lot there, and we’re passing on the knowledge of how to decorate a Christmas parade float to you!

Preparing to Decorate the Christmas Parade Float

All of the same prep that goes into how to decorate a car for a Christmas parade also applies to a Christmas parade float. Don’t miss the essential tips on how to prepare in the first part of our series on Christmas parades, How to Decorate a Car for a Christmas Parade.

Preparing to decorate a Christmas parade float differs from preparing to decorate a parade car in several notable ways. You might find decorating your float more manageable with additional team members, as decorating a float is a bigger project than decorating a car. Anticipate a higher budget for a float than a car, as you’ll need to cover the cost for the float’s base, which is typically a trailer, as well as additional supplies and decorations. The vehicle you choose is key to being able to pull the float, with the best choices being trucks or SUVs for standard size to larger trailers. And you’ll want your Christmas parade float to have its own power source in addition to your parade vehicle’s.

When planning your float’s decorating, use a drawing or image to map out which decorations go where on the float. This sketch doesn’t have to be visually appealing—all that’s needed is a clear and detailed image that establishes and reinforces the vision of how your float should be decorated. Who knows…if your parade gives out awards, the vision in this sketch could turn into a float that takes home the title of “best float” at your Christmas parade!

Also determine a location with enough room to assemble decorations and decorate the float itself. For creative decorations that need assembly, like structures and props, a space such as a garage works well. For decorating the float, consider a spacious yard, large shed, or barn. Communicate among the team to see who has an appropriate space for making the Christmas parade float, or work together to secure a suitable location. If you live in a colder climate, you’ll probably find the idea of decorating a float in a shed or barn preferable.

And finally for prep, make sure your team has enough time to do all that’s needed for a marvelous, well-made float. Chances are, it might take more than one day to install decorations, so make sure you plan your space, vehicle and trailer accordingly.

Making the Christmas Parade Float

Choosing the Float Foundation

The first step to making your Christmas parade masterpiece is choosing the foundation for the float. A convenient route is to decorate on top of a flatbed trailer. You can choose to build a float platform on top of a vehicle too, such as a car or truck, though parade floats tend to be built on the flat platform of either a trailer or truck.

Depending on what’s available to you and what you choose, your trailer may not be completely flat from the middle to all edges, as some trailers, mostly utility trailers, can have rails around the trailer’s perimeter. The trailer’s railing will partially block the view of your Christmas parade float’s decor. You can get around this by building a new floor that sits even with the top of the railing.

Place one or more layers of wooden pallets along the trailer’s floor. Ideally, the pallets should be just under flush with the top of the railing for the plywood placed on top of the pallets to create an even layer. Place the pallets closely to one another so that they can be fastened together. The pallets also need to be secured to the floor to keep them from shifting and sliding around. After installing the pallets, place and secure sheets of plywood over the pallets to create your raised floor layer.

You may have to cut some of the plywood so that the new floor is within the boundaries of the trailer’s perimeter, or you can choose to add what’s known as an apron to cover the wheels of the trailer for a tidy look. Adding an apron is easiest when the plywood from the floor you’ve made reaches over the trailer’s edges. Attach plywood sides that are long enough to cover part of the wheels to the edges of the plywood overhang. Make sure the sides are spaced safely away from the wheel, and that the sides are above the ground enough to prevent impact caused from hitting bumps or potholes.

Many types of flatbed trailers, along with utility trailers, have wheel wells that stick part-way above the floor of the trailer. A trailer’s wheel wells do not obstruct much of the view of your Christmas parade float’s display. However, can build new floor that sits even or slightly above the top of the wheel well if you’d like for the cleanest presentation.

For a multi-level float, you can create platforms with more pallets and plywood. Stack additional pallets for higher platforms. A platform elevates your chosen decorations and signage. Highlight certain decor and signage on platforms using decorations and lighting in an arrangement that creates focal points.

Float Trailer Size

Trailers come in a variety of sizes. For a Christmas parade float, trailers can be from 8 feet to over 20 feet long. Your parade may have rules on trailer size for floats.

A longer trailer gives you room for a larger display with more decorations, although this requires more supplies and a bigger budget. A larger trailer will also call for the greater towing capacity that comes from a truck or SUV.

Decorating the Christmas Parade Float

The Float Floor

Floral sheeting is a popular option for a parade float’s floor, as it sets a colorful stage with an appealing, frilled texture. You can find floral sheeting in glossy or metallic finishes. Vinyl or mylar are other nice options for an attractive covering over the trailer floor.

The Float Fringe

Fringe, or skirting, is a fun accent that runs the perimeter of a float’s bottom edge while hiding the trailer’s metal edges and wheels. Fringe looks great in a color that coordinates with your trailer’s decorated floor. Drawing from the beloved Christmas color palette, a red floor is complemented by green fringe and vice versa.

Fringe hangs in drops that are generally available at lengths of 15 inches and 30 inches, suitable for lower or higher clearances respectively. The fringe is typically attached to the metal edge of the trailer’s perimeter, and can be adhered to the surface with magnetic tape or a strong adhesive tape, such as packing tape.

Structures and Props

Christmas parade floats are perfect for holiday-themed structures and props that put the best of Christmas icons in front of parade-goers. For structures, think gingerbread houses, sleighs, igloos, and other structures that your float can bring to life. Structures can be made from upcycled materials such as furniture or tires, so be open to creative ways for putting it all together. Your float will share the holiday spirit in harmony with fellow parade participants when your decorations fit with your parade’s theme if there is one.

Trees and Presents

Evoke visions of Christmas giving with a tree surrounded by presents! This classic scene is sure to delight families. Wrap cardboard boxes with pretty wrapping paper, put bows on top, and surround an indoor tree with these prop presents to set the stage for an idyllic holiday scene. Smaller, tabletop style trees are also cute decorations in a winter-themed float display.

Christmas String Lights

Lights are perfect for nighttime parades, and offer plenty of ways to decorate. Wrap the tree, install as trim lighting along the trailer’s edges, or line structures on your Christmas parade float with brilliant strings of light. Arrange lights in patterns on surfaces, or spell out messages in lights. If you want to decorate with the brightest lights that lights up the night, look no further than 5mm wide angle conicals.

Signs

Represent your brand, share holiday messages, or do both with signs. Use signs with your company or organization’s branding so that everyone knows who you are. Consider putting lights around your signs to highlight them for everyone along the route.

Sound System

Rig a sound system onto your float and fill the air with the sweet sounds of Christmas tunes that your parade-goers know and love. Music gives your Christmas parade float a sense of contagious energy. Music is also powerful in how it impacts audiences, and can inspire connections to your brand unlike any other. You can use a large bluetooth speaker to play music, although a system that’s directly wired to the music playing device safeguards against the potential connection issues that can happen between a bluetooth speaker and music playing device. Also consider a stereo or loudspeakers for projecting your music. Your parade may have rules regarding music playing from floats, so consult your parade’s guidelines.

Bubble Machine or Snow Machine

These machines bring a lively vibe for the kids by adding an extra effect. Bubbles or snow not only make your Christmas parade float stand out, but they also make it more memorable.

Bonus tip: Don’t Put Garland around the Base of Your Float!

During our parade in Sherman, we learned to avoid decorating with garland around a float. The zip ties used to secure our garland were no match for the bumps in the road along the parade route. The shaking and movement from hitting the bumps caused our garland to droop and eventually get caught in the trailer’s wheels a few times. Dealing with this issue during the parade was a pain. Choose the products that you use to decorate your Christmas parade float carefully, and make sure every decoration is secure so that it doesn’t move around or fall off the float.

Pulling the Christmas Parade Float

Whoever operates the vehicle that pulls the float needs to be a licensed and insured driver who you can trust behind the wheel. Well before the parade, ensure that the essential pulling vehicle equipment such as brakes, lights, and horn are all in perfect working order. Test drive the float at least a day or two in advance of the parade so that you can be sure the float is sturdy and roadworthy.

During the parade, the driver will need to watch for any parade participants who may walk along the route, as well as spectators who happen to get close—especially children. Children can be bursting with energy, and they may move closer to the parade procession or even run parallel with some of the floats. Safety is the top priority in a parade, so the driver must stay aware of parade-goers as well as the parade vehicles and floats in front and behind. The parade may have rules for follow distance, but a good reference is 30 feet. Keep the pull vehicle’s pace slow and steady at walking speed. And of course, follow all of your parade’s guidelines.

Tearing Down the Christmas Parade Float

The great thing about a float is that you and your team can divvy up its decorations and take them home or to your business space. Keep those decorations around and you could use them in next year’s parade.

Holiday parades are so much fun for communities, and decorating a float for a Christmas parade can be fun too when you work with a focused team that wants to make something special. With the right preparation, a solid foundation, thoughtful decorations, and safe driving, your Christmas parade float will be a wonderful sight in your Christmas parade.

If you have questions on decorating for the holidays, we’re here with answers. Any project big or small, you can be confident that our five decades of experience in the Christmas industry will go toward helping you succeed in your Christmas decorating. Email us with your questions at [email protected] or call 1-800-391-5280 to speak with one of our qualified Christmas Designers today!