A float workshop hosted by the Hollister Downtown Association last week gave parade participants some pretty jolly ideas for their floats.
The theme for this year’s parade is “family traditions.” The workshop, hosted at Paine’s Restaurant, was called “Creating an Exciting Parade Entry” and was hosted by Ray Pulver, this year’s parade consultant for the city and founder of Upbeat Parade Productions.
“This is a terrific kickoff to the holiday season,” he said.
About 8 to 10 participants from different nonprofits and businesses in the community sat in on Pulver’s presentation.
He said that people go to parades to be entertained and that if this is your first time building a float, you should keep things simple but memorable.
“You want people to remember your entry,” he said.
Parade entries were due last Friday to the HDA. Last year, about 65 to 68 floats entertained the crowds in downtown Hollister.
Pulver said there are many different ways to make a float, including self-propelled, two-part floats or push floats. Self-propelled floats are cars and automobiles; two-part floats are cars or vehicles pulling a float; and push floats are handcarts being guided by people walking along the floats. He recommended being colorful and larger-than-life to make the floats interesting.
He further advised participants to check with college and art departments for materials, as well as with friends and other places in order to borrow a truck or car for the event.
At last one organization intends to take Pulver’s advice to heart. The 12 Days of Giving group, a collaborative effort between different charity and nonprofit organizations, is going to have a float at the parade.
Their float will be a gingerbread house-themed float, said Lori Arnold, the parade float coordinator for the group, in an e-mail to the Free Lance.
The Food Bank, which is part of the group, is supplying the truck for the float.
Pulver left one piece of advice for the attendees at the presentation.
“Have a great time with it!” he said.
