Float Building Information
Registration
Parade registration fees are:
- No fee for K-12 Schools, individuals or other non-commercial entities
- $100 for commercial entities, including mascots, walking the parade route
- $500 for commercial entities entering motorized vehicle or float
- $500 for candidates entering motorized vehicle or float
- $100 for candidates walking
- Commercial entities include both not-for-profit and for-profit entities
Building a Float
$400 incentive money to build a float
Categories that qualify for incentive money are
- Royalty
- Preschool
- K-12
- Town & Misc. Floats / Adult Organizations
- Youth Organizations
To receive float incentive money, you must BUILD a float. Decorating a car, carriage, etc. does not qualify. One reimbursement check will be issued per organization. Once your float purchases are finished, bring your receipts to get reimbursed up to $400.
Requirements
- If you register online (below), you must still pick up your registration number from Farm Bureau Financial Services as you will need to post it on your float.
- As you build your float, keep all your receipts. You will be reimbursed up to $400.
- Float reimbursements will be paid for float supplies only!! No shirts, sunglasses, hats, etc. will be paid for.
- If you receive float incentive money but do not enter a float in the parade, all incentive money received must be returned to the All Schools Day committee.
Registration (below) or at Farm Bureau Financial Services at 210 E. Euclid beginning Tuesday, April 1.
Where can I build or store my float?
This is probably the #1 question we get. Our recommendation is to check with the people that built your group's float last year, find out where they built the float, then contact that entity to see if the space is available again this year.
If the property being used for storage is either privately owned or on City grounds, any persons using those facilities must be over 18 years of age. We are unable to allow children onto the property.
Float Judging and Prize Money
Only floats which qualify for incentive money will be judged. Representatives from each town in the County will be judges. Categories are:
• Pre-School. ...........................................................................................$150.00
• Kindergarten ........................................................................................$150.00
• Royalty. .................................................................................................$150.00
• Best Use of Theme ..............................................................................$150.00
• People's Choice Award .......................................................................$150.00
• Best Commercial Entry .......................................................................Traveling Trophy
Winners will be posted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9, at the Chamber office, Ad Astra Radio Station, and on the All Schools Day Facebook page. Prize money will be mailed to winners on Monday, May 12.
!! Attention Float Drivers !!
Floats must enter Main Street from the NORTH, coming in off of 1st Street. Do not try to enter the parade staging area from the side streets between the railroad tracks and First Street.
Questions about the parade or building/ entering a float?
Then plan to attend the meeting on Wednesday, March 27th at 5:30pm. It will be held at Peoples Bank, Vaniman Room, 116 E. Main St., McPherson. Many of your questions will be answered there. And for those we can't answer, we'll track down the answer and let you know!
Rules, Hints, and Suggestions To make your Build easier:
All entries must be registered either online or at Farm Bureau Financial Services - Luke Bauer by Wednesday, May 7th, before 5:00 p.m. Your registration number must be picked up by this same time, even if you register online.
Decide early on how you will tie your float to this theme. Draw a rough sketch with dimensions to help in determining the truck or trailer being used.
Square shapes with straight lines are the most simple to construct.
Covering Floral Sheeting is the best, but most expensive to use. It comes in 3'X 3' squares.
It should have a solid backing to staple to like plywood or cardboard.
The float can be a truck, trailer, or hayrack and four wheels is always the best.
Staple gun is convenient for fastening cardboard and the floral sheeting to the float. Secure it well because on a breezy day, your decoration may go flying.
Floats need to be pulled by vehicles large enough to maintain a steady pace, but not so large to detract from the float. There should be NO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING on the float or vehicle unless you have registered to participate in the parade as a commercial entry. You will spend many hours planning, designing, and constructing your float, so choose your pulling vehicle to compliment the float.
Included is an entry sheet to be filled out and returned to at Farm Bureau Financial Services - Luke Bauer (or completed on the website). This is the only description of your. float media purposes. Also list the people riding on the float (if not a large group) and any other interesting facts.
The name of your organization, or your slogan when a part of the float, should be VERY LEGIBLE to those viewing the parade. We ask that you put a cardboard sign on the front of your float or pulling vehicle (whichever is seen the best) and also on the back of the float. Use cardboard signs at least 4" X 18". Print only your name with letters at least as large as the numbers you are issued.
Floats must be LESS than 15' tall and 14' wide to clear the power lines.
Place your Float Numbers on LEFT FRONT and BACK RIGHT sides of your float.
Numbers should be visible to the crowd. Float numbers must be obtained from at Farm Bureau Financial Services - Luke Bauer, by 5:00 pm on Wednesday prior to the parade.
Float decoration materials can be found on line by searching for "parade float decorating materials".
Race cars and other motorized vehicles with loud engines are not permitted to be driven in the parade. They may be pulled through the parade on a trailer.
Children driving motorized vehicles must be of legal age and in possession of a valid driver's license. This does not apply to "child-type" vehicles that are battery powered.
Rules, Hints, and Suggestions To make your Build easier:
All entries must be registered either online or at Farm Bureau Financial Services - Luke Bauer by Wednesday, May 7th, before 5:00 p.m. Your registration number must be picked up by this same time, even if you register online.
Decide early on how you will tie your float to this theme. Draw a rough sketch with dimensions to help in determining the truck or trailer being used.
Square shapes with straight lines are the most simple to construct.
Covering Floral Sheeting is the best, but most expensive to use. It comes in 3'X 3' squares.
It should have a solid backing to staple to like plywood or cardboard.
The float can be a truck, trailer, or hayrack and four wheels is always the best.
Staple gun is convenient for fastening cardboard and the floral sheeting to the float. Secure it well because on a breezy day, your decoration may go flying.
Floats need to be pulled by vehicles large enough to maintain a steady pace, but not so large to detract from the float. There should be NO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING on the float or vehicle unless you have registered to participate in the parade as a commercial entry. You will spend many hours planning, designing, and constructing your float, so choose your pulling vehicle to compliment the float.
Included is an entry sheet to be filled out and returned to at Farm Bureau Financial Services - Luke Bauer (or completed on the website). This is the only description of your. float media purposes. Also list the people riding on the float (if not a large group) and any other interesting facts.
The name of your organization, or your slogan when a part of the float, should be VERY LEGIBLE to those viewing the parade. We ask that you put a cardboard sign on the front of your float or pulling vehicle (whichever is seen the best) and also on the back of the float. Use cardboard signs at least 4" X 18". Print only your name with letters at least as large as the numbers you are issued.
Floats must be LESS than 15' tall and 14' wide to clear the power lines.
Place your Float Numbers on LEFT FRONT and BACK RIGHT sides of your float.
Numbers should be visible to the crowd. Float numbers must be obtained from at Farm Bureau Financial Services - Luke Bauer, by 5:00 pm on Wednesday prior to the parade.
Float decoration materials can be found on line by searching for "parade float decorating materials".
Race cars and other motorized vehicles with loud engines are not permitted to be driven in the parade. They may be pulled through the parade on a trailer.
Children driving motorized vehicles must be of legal age and in possession of a valid driver's license. This does not apply to "child-type" vehicles that are battery powered.
Float Registration begins April 1
ASD Day Of Information
Friday, May 9 2025
NOTICE: Floats and vehicles should be in place in the staging area by 9:00 a.m. Participants can assemble prior to 9:45 a.m. Judging will begin at 9:30 a.m. In order to be considered for a prize, you must be in your assigned area. Kindergarten & Pre-K floats will be judged beginning at 10:00 a.m. If your entry is not being judged, please be in the area by 9:45 a.m. PARADE STARTS AT 10:30 A.M.
!! Saftey Warning !!
THROWING candy, balloons etc. from parade participants to parade spectators is NOT ALLOWED for safety and parade movement. HANDING items to parade spectators is allowed by parade participants WALKING along the edge of the parade route. Vehicles or floats are not permitted to stop along the parade route to load or unload people.
PARENTS: Be sure that kids' floats, bicycles, costumes, etc. are not restrictive to hinder the child in walking or pedaling the entire parade route. KINDERGARTEN KIDS need to be picked up immediately after they get through the parade in the 'Kids Unloading Zone'
Where to Line Up for the Parade
1. Color Bearers
Middle of Block West side 400 Block N. Main
2. National Dignitaries (elected officials)
Front of American Legion, 400 Block N. Main
3. State Dignitaries (elected officials)
East Side 400 Block N. Main
4. Local Dignitaries (elected officials)
East Side 400 Block N. Main
5. Candidates for public office
No vehicles allowed for candidates, but non elected dignitaries are welcome to walk the parade route. Line up at Woodside & Main.
6. Royalty Floats (700)
Middle of Block, West Side 400 Block N. Main
7. Preschool Floats (100)
Woodside & Main
8. Kindergarten Floats (200)
Woodside & Main
9. Youth Entry (under 9 yrs.) (1100)
USD # 418 parking lot
10. Youth Entry (9 yrs.+) (1200)
USD# 418 parking lot
11. Town & Misc. Floats & Adult Org Floats (600)
West side 500 Block N. Main
12. Youth Org Floats & School Floats (all cities) (300)
East side 500 Block N. Main
13. Misc. Non-Judged (1300)
East side 500 Block N. Main
14. Commercial Floats (1000)
East Side 600 Block N. Main
15. Shrine Group
West Side 600 Block N. Main (Genesis Health)
16. Antique/Classic Cars over 35+ yrs. (2000)
700 Block N. Main
17. Car Clubs, Individual Unique Cars and all other Vehicles/Cycles (2100)
700 Block N. Main
18. Horses
Saddle Club Arena on West First Street
Note: The registration numbering system does not reference the order of the parade.
Parade Route
