Homecoming Information 2005
Overview:
Next year there will be a “Boo Parade” going on in the San Diego State area. The
entire community will be involved, everything from high school bands to the fire
department will be showcased. It is going to be a huge event and already has many
sponsors. This was a tradition a long time ago and is now being brought back. We have
the privilege of joining in this tradition and hopefully forming a tradition of our own. It
will be great publicity for the Greek community, definitely something we need!
Basically what we will be showcasing in this parade will be a float and the chariots, all
put together by each Greek week pairing. There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall
for best float, this will count for Homecoming points, not Greek Week points. If
any one had homecoming floats in high school, this is basically the same thing. Below
are the guidelines and rules to building a float as well as a chariot!
Chariots:
The chariots will be exactly the same thing that is built every single year, the only
rule required this time is that the chariot MUST be in the color of your Greek week
pairing. This chariot will also be showcased during the parade, so put more
effort into designing it then you normally would. There will still be chariot races as well
at the homecoming game, so after it is displayed for the parade it will then be taken to
the game for racing at half time.
Homecoming Poster:
There will be a homecoming poster competition for the pairings. This poster will need
to be put up the week of homecoming and must mention each chapter in the pairing and
something about homecoming and the Aztecs.
Float Building:
The Rules:
1. The float needs to have a theme, you must incorporate something with
“beating the cougars” since we are playing BYU but at the same time have a
Halloween flare to it. We are providing sample slogans, you can choose one
of these or come up with something more creative on your own.
2. The chariot needs to be somewhere to be seen, either on float and
incorporated into the theme some how, dragging behind the chariot, or
placed in the back of the truck pulling the float. This is your choice, it just
needs to be displayed somewhere.
3. Your team color must be seen (since the color of the chariot needs to be your
Greek Week pairing color, this rule should be met) all the names of all the
chapters in the pairings must be seen somewhere.
4. Participation requirement: AT LEAST 5 members each from USFC and
NPHC, and 10 each for Panhellenic and IFC for building the float.
5. At least 1 person from each chapter riding on the float and a maximum of 2
per chapter. There needs to be a minimum of 5 people on the float but up to
10 people are allowed. The people on the float have to choose as a team to
dress up either in costume pertaining to the theme of your float, wear SDSU
paraphernalia or your chapter letters. Everyone on the float must be
coordinated. (ex. 2 people in costume, 1 in SDSU, everyone else in
letters…NO!!...either everyone wearing letters or everyone wearing
costumes!)
6. There needs to be candy that you can throw out to the kids while riding on
the float as well.
7. There is a maximum of $500 that will be spent on this float, but you can get
sponsorships from companies, the best thing to do is get people to donate
material rather then money (chicken wire, wood, tissue paper, etc, from
anywhere from Home Depot to Lowe’s) Receipts need to be turned in.
8. The floats will ALSO be taken to the Homecoming game for display
after the parade because it will give us great PR!
Choose one of these themes first or come up with something creative on your own before attempting to
buy the materials and putting the float together.
1. Spook the cougars (ghosts)
2. Trick the cougars with an Aztec Treat (trick or treating, kids, bags)
3. Haunt the cougars (haunted house)
4. Scare the cougars (monsters)
5. Stomp the cougars (a foot)
6. Beat the cougars
7. Cougar Busters (ghostbusters)
8. Capture the cougars (a net of some sort, rope)
9. Cast a spell on the cougars (witches)
10. Curse the cougars
11. Vanish the cougars (fog machine, vampires)
12. Carve the cougars (pumpkins)
13. Taunt the cougars
14. Bury the cougars (coffin)
15. R.I.P cougars
~~~ After picking your theme you then need to go get the materials to build the float. There are a
few items you will want to have on hand before building your float. A staple gun, nails, wire, chicken
wire, 1”x1” and 2” x 2” construction grade wood and plywood. Newspapers, tissue paper, Paper
Mache, colored napkins are also necessary.
~~~
When you decide on a design for the float, it must get approved first!
Ok here are 5 simple steps on “How to build a float,” this is just a guideline to help you in creating the
float.
Step 1: Trailer
a) secure a flatbed trailer (THIS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU, IT’S A LOW-BOY
TRAILER)
b) secure a vehicle to tow your float (truck, van , SUV)
Step 2: Float Base
a) Measure chicken wire to cover each side of the flatbed. These pieces will eventually be used to
make a drape around the flatbed (good for putting your pairing names on it)
b) Fasten the chicken wire to the edge of the flatbed with nails or staple gun.
Step 3: Float Base
a) Cut newspaper into 6’x 6’ squares or into long strips
b) Blend flour (or starch) and water together to make paper mache material
c) Dip newspaper pieces into paper mache and paste onto chicken wire in 2-3 layers.
d) Allow to dry, then spray paint and decorate
(you can either do this or use tissue paper or colored napkins, or anything else you feel would be
easy to layer over the chicken wire. Using colored tissue paper or napkins will require less
painting)
Step 4: Stuff on the Float
a) Build the frame(s) of the object(s) you want to be on the float (use wood, chicken wire, etc.)
b) Use the wood to build a skeleton of the object and then staple the chicken wire to the wood
c) Attach chicken wire to “fill out” object or to add detail.
d) Use cloth, paper mache, paint or streamers to decorate frame
e) Make sure the frame is securely fastened to the base of the flatbed!
Step 5: More stuff on the Float
Decorate and “fill out” the rest of the float. Fill it with spirited people.
Suggestions, in short
a) Build the frame of an object or a design with wood, then elaborate using chicken wire. Use
paper mache to cover the chicken wire, then spray paint or otherwise decorate the paper mache
with your design or logos
b) Use streamers or chicken wire to decorate the edges of the flatbed
c) Use balloons—but not too many. A balloon arch can look good
d) Use original decorations (i.e. umbrellas, music, movement, etc.)
e) The easiest thing sometimes is not to actually build the object you need (i.e. if there is a horse
in the theme, find a wooden horse somewhere, like a horse cradle or something, then you don’t
have to build it but just add and make it more elaborate.)
f) Absolutely No Flames
g) There must be proper disposal of all float items after the football game or your pairing
will be automatically disqualified for homecoming points/placement.
Some helpful links:
www.fourthofjulyparade.org/trailer.htm
www.fbsind.com/FLOATS/Buildafloat.htm
www.summerlink.com/events/july4/build_a_float.pdf
Attached are some helpful pictures and more guidelines on how to build a float. These pictures are just
to give you an idea of what floats can look like. They obviously don’t need to look that extravagant.
Try to build this float as soon as you get back from school, Homecoming is October 29 th, 2005. You
don’t want to be rushing at the last minute to put this together, it’s not something you can do overnight
or day of. These floats are going to be seen by the community so they need to be presentable! Good
luck with float building!
If you have any questions at all you can call Danielle Le at (714)609-8200 or e-mail me at
totallyd23@aol.com.