Posted on February 08, 2023
Large civic parades and their floats have been an important part of America’s heritage dating back to the early 1800s. One of the first major parades was on New Year’s Day in 1831 in Mobile, Alabama. The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was in 1857 with only two floats, before the first Festival of Roses parade took place in 1890 in Pasadena, California. Today it is more widely known as the Rose Parade, or Tournament of Roses, and was originally instituted to promote Southern California's sunny winter weather.
Innovation began in the early 1900s when Isabella Coleman broke ground for women in engineering after winning second place in the “horse-drawn conveyance” category for her float design in the 1910 Rose Parade. She was the first female to design floats for the Rose Parade, in a career that lasted over fifty years. Today, over 100 years later, many of “Izzy” Colman’s innovations are still used in the construction of floats.
Most major floats are designed and constructed by professional builders. According to CBS News it takes about 10 months to build a float for a major parade, at a cost of approximately $780,000 to $2.6 million using a wide variety of materials and construction methods. 
Many floats are pulled by pickup trucks, but major parade floats are typically self-moving and controlled by a driver stationed in a low profile area below the float. They are built on chassis composed of steel plates and tubing, incorporating components which steer and power the float using gas engines with automatic transmissions to ride smoothly. The float’s framework is typically made from steel tubing and rods that form the specific shape of the figure. The framework is covered with aluminum mesh wire screen which is sprayed with a colorized polyvinyl plasticized liquid as an outer coating, hardening to provide a durable skin. Some float manufactures use mounds of expanded polystyrene to make the outer shapes and polyurethane for the balloon characters.
Many large floats feature extensive and complex moving parts or animated figures powered by electrical systems and hydraulic pumps that operate hydraulic cylinders and motors. To achieve realistic visual aesthetics, the moving parts must appear realistic and operate smoothly. This is achieved by a complex series of computer-controlled valves and actuators which operate the hydraulic cylinders and motors. A float may have a driver and spotter below, with a few operators controlling the animation effects with computer operated gauges, hydraulics and manual controls.However, many sections of the Mardi Gras and other parade floats are made largely of four-inch-thick Styrofoam sheets.
Because some parades pass through tunnels or under bridges, the large physical size of the float designs can be problematic. These tall floats are designed to hydraulically collapse in a matter of seconds to prevent delaying the parade. Sometimes the weight of certain sections, such as cantilevered portions of an animal neck and head or limb of a figure can be an issue. In these cases, extra strong welds and fasteners are used to provide additional strength and specialized hydraulic systems operate appendages that have moving or articulating parts. Even the weight of floral decorations can significantly increase if it rains.
From the Unusual to the Unwieldy
As with many innovations, institutions of higher education tend to come up with the most revolutionary ideas. A red panda, an otter and a 1,500 pound koala zoom off in makeshift airplanes from a float covered in 12,000 chrysanthemums built by at least 100 students from California State’s Cal Poly Pomona campus.
The 2023 Rose Parade will include Claremont McKenna College’s 55 foot long float- incorporating a 25-foot-tall replica of Mt. Baldy.
Finally, in 2013 the Mardi Gras parade had a 300-foot-long super float built by the Krewe of Endymion which had to be separated in half to make a turn. According to New Orleans Police, the float was separated and then re-attached so it could continue its path along the narrow streets of the city- though only a minor hiccup as the parade finished ahead of schedule.
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FAQs
Float history
Parade floats were first introduced in the Middle Ages. Churches used pageant wagons as movable scenery for passion plays, and craftsmen with artisan guilds built pageant wagons for their specified craft.
What did they use in the Rose Bowl parade before parade floats? ›
In 1890, Valley Hunt Club members, led by Charles Frederick Holder, sponsored the first Tournament of Roses. The abundance of flowers, even in the midst of winter, prompted the club to add a parade before the competition, where entrants would decorate carriages with hundreds of colorful blooms.
Why are floats called floats in a parade? ›
The parade float got its name because the first floats were decorated barges that were towed along the canals with ropes held by parade marchers on the shore.
What happens to the leftover flowers from the Rose Parade? ›
"When the floats come back to our building, we disassemble them and have a crew who throws the roses away," Lofthouse says. "We've had companies who've tried to salvage the petals for potpourri, but they're pretty dead by the time they get back here."
What is the history of parades? ›
The earliest reference to a parade is found in Spanish cave paintings. They depicted crowds cheering as hunters triumphantly brought back their prey. In later years, many parades were held for religious and military purposes. Parades in America have taken on many forms over the centuries.
What is the heaviest parade float? ›
Measuring more than 125 feet long and weighing more than 137,000 pounds, the Lucy Pet Products 2017 Rose Parade float is the longest and heaviest in parade history.
Who pays for the floats in the Rose Parade? ›
Small, non-commercial floats are usually self-built and often obtain money through donations and voluntary labor. Together, there are approximately 50 floats participating annually. Since the early parades in history, the 5.5-mile-long annual festival has had a major impact within the community.
Do they reuse Rose Parade floats? ›
The Rose Parade is a beautiful and festive event, but it also has a sustainability story to tell. Once the parade has finished, the floats are reused.
What are the requirements for a float in the Rose Bowl parade? ›
FLOATS. The Rose Parade's elaborate floats have come a long way since the Tournament's early days, and the Rose Parade has stayed true to its floral beginnings. Every inch of every float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds or bark.
What is the biggest parade in the world? ›
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
In addition to it being the world's largest parade, it is also America's second oldest.
On average, at what speed do the Rose Parade floats travel? A: The Rose Parade floats travel at approximately 2.5 miles per hour.
Who drives parade floats? ›
Some floats, like those appearing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, are pulled along by pickup trucks. Others, like those in the Rose Parade, are self-moving, controlled by a driver stationed within the bowels of the float.
Who builds the floats for the Rose Parade? ›
Established in 1988… Southern California-based Fiesta Parade Floats (FPF) is the premier builder of parade floats for the Tournament of Roses Parade.
What happens to the Rose Parade if it rains? ›
It has rained 10 times in Rose Parade history: 1895, 1899, 1906, 1910, 1916, 1922, 1934, 1937, 1955 and 2006. Rain has never canceled the Parade – the Parade continues rain or shine. 1895 – Rained for the entire week before the Parade and during Parade. 1899 – The Parade was postponed until 3:45 due to rain.
How do parade floats move? ›
Many floats are pulled by pickup trucks, but major parade floats are typically self-moving and controlled by a driver stationed in a low profile area below the float.
What is the meaning of parade floats? ›
A parade float is a decorated platform, either built on a vehicle, or towed behind one. Parades are often held on a holiday or to honor someone, and are usually a celebration of some kind.
How were the first parade floats driven? ›
During the early parades, floats were carried by horses and carriages that transported local dignitaries and resident elites.
What do they do with the floats after the Thanksgiving parade? ›
After the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the large character balloons and inflatables used in the parade are typically deflated and folded up. They are then transported to a designated storage area.
Why are floats important in New Orleans? ›
Ever since krewes began parading through New Orleans over 100 years ago, parade floats have played a major role in Mardi Gras history. Some floats are elaborate and beautiful, while others are funny and satirical. Many krewes have a theme to their parade each year, and so floats are created to reflect those themes.
