How to Make a Mardi Gras Parade Float

If you are building a Mardi Gras parade float, you know that time is running out to finish it! Here are some ideas for reducing the work a little while retaining the “eye candy” qualities you strive for.

Big Easy skirt frames: Besides using pomps and chicken wire, the other classic way to cover a skirt frame is to staple floral sheeting over it and attach fringe along the bottom of the frame — but there is a third way that saves steps.

Premium metallic decorating curtains come in heights of 8 or 12 feet. That’s tall enough to cover anything you’ve got. The curtains come in classic Mardi Gras colors, and we’re sure you’ll love the gleam and sweep of long fringe.

Attach curtains at the top of the frame just where the decking ends, and cover the seam between the curtain and the floral sheeting (or other decking material) with festooning just as you would any material transition. Lastly, trim the fringe to the desired length.

This Girl Guide publication has great illustrations of skirt frame options.

Big Easy Messaging: Identify your organization or share your parade float slogan with custom Mardi Gras banners, which incidentally will hang nicely against your fringed foil curtains. There are 30 designs and you can further customize any of them, so they are sure to be eye-catching and unique to your float.

Our banners are made to laugh at the weather. If you participate in a Mardi Gras parade every year, consider the most timeless design and message possible so you can happily re-use them.

There are few rules for designing a banner for a parade float and they relate to visibility: use the largest lettering that will fit, and a lettering color that contrasts with the background color.

Big Easy decorations: Mardi Gras props can be a huge time saver over building your own, and some props, such as street lights, require little fuss.

Consider your climate if you are looking at cardboard products, and if your prop is one-sided find a way to hide the back. Decorating curtains might, once again, be the answer here; just use our tall Showstopper curtain frames. Another idea is to buy two of a symmetrical prop and place them back to back – our Rendezvous buildings, shown above, would be perfect for this.

Balloons are also an easy decorating option. Most balloons will hold up just fine outdoors for the duration of a parade, and our Mardi Gras balloons are big as well as easy.

Decorate with balloons after you get to the staging area and as close to parade start time as possible for the freshest look. If pre-inflating, blow up and keep the balloons in an environment that has the same air temperature as you’ll find at the parade, to avoid the problem of deflation caused by going from warm to cold.

Find more ideas in parade supplies and if you have a tip of your own, please share in the comments!

Mardi Gras Parade Floats for 2012

Mardi Gras 2012 is just around the corner and so are the dazzling parades, which have been the main event of the carnival season for centuries.  Mardi Gras 2012 is February 21.  It takes place annually on the Tuesday before Lent, a Christian time of fasting and penance. The colors of Mardi Gras: green, purple and gold, are symbolic for justice, faith and power respectively. Spirit beads in these colors are plentiful, during the grand celebration, where amazing floats delight large crowds, lining city streets to awe at invigorating parades, and be energized by lively and welcoming surroundings.

Mardi Gras parade floats are a steadfast tradition of the season; they are often created with dynamic designs, using a wide assortment of elaborate Mardi Gras party supplies.

Mardi Gras floats are not simply reserved for parades, however. They can be tailor made in many sizes. Children’s wagons and even shoe boxes can be transformed into miniature floats that can be used in neighborhood block parties, local park celebrations, or as Mardi Gras decorations for private parties.

No matter what the design, theme or size of this year’s Mardi Gras parade float, some classic elements are sure add a touch of flair and excitement to any Mardi Gras celebration in 2012.

Crafters should begin by covering the base of their Mardi Gras float with background materials. Decorating fabric, burlap, gossamer fabric and corrugated paper transform parade float bases into works of art. Scene setters come in handy when time for creating parade floats is limited.

Once the background is in place, custom Mardi Gras banners, mascots and a various assortment of party balloons should be added to the Mardi Gras parade float. Mardi Gras props including masks, jazz musicians and large, custom 2012 standees transform ordinary parade floats into traditional Mardi Gras masterpieces. Add some metallic curtains or a bit of fringe as a finishing touch, toss a few strands of colorful Mardi Gras spirit beads about, and Mardi Gras 2012 will be one that is happily remembered, every time Mardi Gras is celebrated.

Mardi Gras Theme Parade Floats

There’s still time to put together a magnificent Mardi Gras themed parade float that will jazz the crowd as it strolls by.

Start by decorating the base of your float with gold and purple vinyl metallic fringe to cover the wheels and give your float some pizazz. Add Mardi Gras fabric bunting over the fringe for a layered look. The bunting features a purple, green and gold hanging fabric swag. It measures 1 1/2 feet wide by 11 1/2 feet long.

Next build up your float with Mardi Gras float add-ons. The male and female jester are bright, bold, and ready for a party! Each float add-on is made of lightweight plastic and can easily be adhered to your float. A simple way to put more Bourbon Street flair into your float is to use the Mardi Gras madness float standee set which includes: a rebel fish biker standee (5 feet high by 9 feet wide), a jester standee (8 feet high by 9 feet wide), and a dragon standee (8 feet high by 9 feet wide). The standees are even edged with fringe in traditional Mardi Gras colors (purple, green, and gold).

Don’t forget to dress float riders in New Orleans style accessories. Guys will love showing off their spirit wearing the Mardi Gras glitter top hat. Gals will shimmer with a Mardi Gras sequin tiara. This float will be complete with a “jazz band” playing gold plastic musical instruments featuring a trumpet, a saxophone and a clarinet.

Be sure to have a Mardi Gras bucket of beads on hand to toss out on the parade route. The bucket contains 72 strands of 32″ long plastic beads in classic Mardi Gras colors.