' s ▁para de ▁is ▁over , ▁and ▁the ▁next ▁year ' s ▁para de ▁theme ▁is ▁announced , ▁the ▁para de ▁spons ors ▁and ▁particip ating ▁communities ▁start ▁to ▁plan ▁their ▁flo ats ▁for ▁the ▁following ▁year . ▁A ▁" theme ▁draft " ▁meeting ▁is ▁held ▁in ▁mid - F ebru ary ▁where ▁build ers ▁select ▁their ▁float ▁theme . ▁ ▁The ▁Tournament ▁ass ures ▁that ▁there ▁are ▁not ▁too ▁many ▁similar ▁flo ats . ▁ ▁Char acters ▁and ▁other ▁objects ▁on ▁the ▁float ▁are ▁created ▁as ▁separate ▁elements ▁to ▁add ▁later , ▁consisting ▁of ▁a ▁framework ▁of ▁steel ▁and ▁ch icken ▁wire . ▁ ▁The ▁ch ass is ▁has ▁be ams ▁and ▁steel ▁rod ▁w eld ed ▁to ▁it ▁to ▁support ▁a ▁mesh ▁cover . ▁ ▁The ▁float ▁is ▁then ▁" c oc oon ed " ▁in ▁the ▁next ▁process ; ▁it ▁is ▁sp rayed ▁with ▁a ▁poly vin yl ▁material ▁which ▁acts ▁as ▁a ▁base ▁for ▁inserting ▁decor ation . ▁ ▁This ▁base ▁is ▁painted ▁with ▁the ▁colors ▁of ▁the ▁flowers ▁to ▁be ▁applied ▁to ▁the ▁float . ▁ ▁Every ▁square ▁in ch ▁of ▁the ▁exposed ▁surface ▁of ▁a ▁float ▁entered ▁in ▁the ▁para de ▁must ▁be ▁covered ▁with ▁flowers ▁or ▁other ▁natural ▁materials . ▁These ▁other ▁decor ative ▁applic ants ▁include ▁b ark , ▁seed ▁and ▁leaves . ▁ ▁Dec or ating ▁with ▁the ▁non - per ish able ▁materials ▁is ▁performed ▁first . ▁In ▁the ▁days ▁following ▁Christmas , ▁the ▁live ▁add itions ▁to ▁the ▁float ▁are ▁applied