Every year, citizens in towns across America line their streets to witness a glorious parade in honor of the holiday season. Though fun for all in the crowd, coming up with Christmas float ideas can be a real challenge for those who are participating in the event – it is very easy to get caught up in the pressure to outdo last year’s display or best another team in creating a unique design reflecting the spirit of the holiday. Of course, in the long run, no first place ribbon or award will be quite as important as the time spent with family and friends. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with something amazing!
As you begin to plan the display you are putting together for the event, there are several things to consider. Here are a few questions to ask in order to make sure you produce the best float you can:
Is there a theme?
If your idea is part of a competition held by a local committee, chances are good they want your display to fit into an overall concept. They will probably have a sentence or two describing what they are attempting to show the audience, so use that as a guiding principle as you begin brainstorming ideas. This will keep you from running too far afield as you talk and aid you in narrowing down the list as you move from the chalkboard to the drawing board.
What is your platform?
The most important part of your float is the base – once you know what it can carry, you have a better understanding of how elaborate your design can be. If you come up with something that’s bigger than what you have available, that doesn’t mean your dream ends before it can even get started. Begin asking friends and family members what you might be able to get access to – either for free or by renting equipment. You might be surprised what you find.
How much do you have to spend?
Simply put, if you are unable to purchase materials, you have no float. The great thing about a budget, though, is that it will force you to be innovative in searching for the parts that will make up your creation. If, for example, you want to have a small replica of Santa’s House on the back of a trailer, you might be able to recycle some old boards instead of having to visit a home improvement store to purchase lumber. This will save on your expenses and be good for the environment, a win-win if there ever was one.
When is the deadline?
In the case of a competition, chances are good there will be a final moment several days before the parade when your float has to be submitted for judging. After all that hard work, you don’t want to be disqualified simply because you forgot when you had to have your float parked near the starting point. Budget your time appropriately and leave some room for error – you never know what might happen! | 
