Parade Company!

Today we went on our first field trip to the Parade Company in Detroit.  Prior to the trip we watched a short video clip on Youtube of the Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit.  They boys and girls were amazed at all of the costumes, floats, balloons and other characters in the parade.  They were so excited to go and see these things up close. 

At the Parade Company we were led around the warehouse by a guide.  We learned about how the floats are designed, and watched as workers carved different pieces of new floats out of styrofoam.  We got to look inside floats to see how they are driven down the road.  We got to touch many of the fabrics, plastics, and other materials that are used to make the floats.   Some of the floats had parts that moved, some were designed by students, others had familiar characters from fairy tales.  We saw hundreds of paper mache character heads that weigh up to 50 pounds and are worn by volunteers in the parade.  Many of the floats are rented out by other cities to be used in their parades.  Some of the floats are several decades old and have to be repaired over and over.  The boys and girls were able to take home a clown noses and an activity book from the Parade Company.  It was so interesting learning about all of the work that goes into making the Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit so spectacular.  Don't forget to watch it on TV on Thanksgiving Day!