We’ve been in the Indy Pride parade for many years – and not to brag, but we think we’ve finally mastered the perfect parade set up. From starting with a simple banner to building out a full float, we’ve seen what works (and what doesn’t) across every budget. 

Whether you’re eyeing an appearance of your brand in the 500 Festival parade in May, Indy Pride in June, or your local Independence Day celebration in July, your goal as a marketer is the same: get seen, be remembered, and actually connect with the crowd in (real) life. 

Here are some ideas for your brand to show up and show off at your next parade – with options for every budget. 

At the very least, you should look like you belong together. Matching t-shirts and a walking banner go a long way toward creating a unified presence. It’ll make your group recognizable, readable, and instantly more legit. 
 
A few ways to make this idea work even harder for your brand: 

• Choose high-contrast colors so your logo is readable from a distance  
• Keep messaging short and bold (now’s not the time to list out your entire mission statement!) 
• Pick a theme – or at least a color – that makes you stand out 

Once you have the basics covered, the next step is visibility and engagement. 

Turn your car into a moving billboard with vehicle magnets on the side or hood. Foam core graphics work at low speeds, even on wheels! Simple printed handouts or people-pleasing promo give people something useful in the moment. 

Some tips from our experience:  

• Choose giveaways people need during the parade (we like sunscreen or hand fans during the summer months!)  
• Your team’s energy matters for memorability! Bump some tunes from your car’s speakers or use bubble guns to interact with the crowd 
• Encourage your team to hand items directly to the crowd instead of tossing them for a more personalized touch 

To be honest, we looked at our own parade presence a few years ago and realized… we could do better.  

We reached out to Tony Boyle at Boyle Built Wagons to rent a float base, then built it out with Tactive-printed wide-format graphics to bring our brand to (larger-than-real) life. It gave us the space to design intentionally, create a clear focal point, and actually match the scale of a big, bold parade. 

This is a strong option for brands that want to show up big without taking on the complexity (and cost) of a fully custom-built float. 

For a stand-out float, we recommend:  

• Start with a strong base — literally. We’ve used a rickety trailer before, and a true float flatbed is a much better experience  
• Design for distance. Your audience is several yards away, so bold graphics will always outperform small details  
• Keep your concept focused. One clear idea will land better than multiple competing messages

At most parades, everyone is handing something out. If your giveaway isn’t memorable, it gets dropped into the goodie bag and forgotten amidst everything else.  

Here’s a few good places to start: 

• Recycled Rainbow Wrist Lanyard – Decorated as low as $1.48, Minimum 250
  Easy to hand out, easy to put on, and useful after the parade.  

• Rainbow Sunglasses – Decorated as low as $3.09 | Minimum 300 
  Fun, visible, and instantly usable. If people are putting these on right away, your brand becomes part of the crowd.
  

• Tootsie Pop with Custom Flag – As low as $0.69 | Minimum 1000
  High-volume and easy to distribute. The custom flag gives you branding space while keeping costs low for larger routes. 

• Customizable Mini Cereal Boxes – As low as $3.29 | Minimum 100 
  A more unexpected option that stands out. It’s different enough to make people pause – and a crowd pleaser for all ages.
  

• Sunscreen with Carabiner – Decorated as low as $1.95 | Minimum 100 
  Practical always wins. Sunscreen is something people will use immediately and keep with them for the rest of the day. 

A few tips from our experience: 

• Choose items people will use during the parade, not later  
• Plan for volume! You’ll run out faster than you think  
• Make sure your branding is clear, even on smaller items  
• Keep distribution simple so your team can hand things out quickly  

If you’re planning your next parade appearance and want to make sure your brand shows up the way it should, that’s exactly where we come in. Whether you need a starting point or want to go all in, we’re always up for helping you build something people actually remember.