Onondaga Creek Art Float

Syracuse’s beloved floating art parade on Onondaga Creek is back! 

2025 will mark the 10th parade of handcrafted floats bobbing merrily down the creek. Craft your own buoyant creation (think foam bases, water-resistant materials, and designs with low centers of gravity) that will catch the current and delight spectators from the shoreline, or come simply to enjoy the community show!

• When: Sat, June 7th @ Noon
• Artist drop-off: 10:30-11:30 AM at the Trolley Lot, behind the M.O.S.T, Armory Square.
• Artist pick-up, post float: Plum Street circle, Franklin Square
• Best viewing: Any bridge over Onondaga Creek between Walton Street (Armory Square) and Plum Street (Franklin Square)

Remember to keep your masterpiece family-friendly, non-political, and suitable for all ages to ensure everyone can enjoy this unique celebration of our urban waterway.

* To register art to float in the parade, please continue reading the full guidelines and technical tips before using the registration button below. We can’t wait to see what you create!

Why an art float? 

It draws attention to Onondaga Creek in positive ways, and it’s fun! 

How can I participate? 

Check out the information below and register with us starting 5/1 (it’s free!). Then, make a float and show up on time the day of the float. Creek Rats will launch your floating art, make sure it keeps moving along the parade route, and take your float out for you to pick up at the end. We will know our exact launch and pickup spots closer to the event to make sure that everyone knows the where and whens.

What kind of float can I make? 

All sorts of things both real and imagined, from people and animals, to buildings, boats, flowers,  movie scenes, famous statues, mermaids, dragons, planets, or even abstract shapes colored in a mix of interesting hues. Basically, whatever you can imagine and construct!

Are there limits on the content of floats? 

Yes. Because the Creek Art Float takes place in public, we ask for floats to be: 

• Non-political 
• Non-religious 
• Suitable for viewing by people of all ages 

What if I’m not sure about the content of my float? 

Easy – contact us and ask. Please note that we reserve the right to exclude floats deemed inappropriate under the previous terms, or improperly made. 

Art Float Tips & Technical Information

How do I make my art float?

According to Archimedes, floats must weigh less than the water they displace to float. They also shouldn’t absorb or take on too much water. Some tips to do all this are: 

• Build on a buoyant base such as an inner tube, air-inflated raft, sealed foam box or plastic bucket, pool noodles, or foam insulation board that’s at least 1 inch thick
• Avoid wood structures because of the poor size to weight ratio
• Use water repellent / waterproof materials (like plastic, waxed cardboard, or styrofoam) or decorate with water repellent / waterproof paint

How do I help my float stay upright? 

Floats bounce and swirl in the water. They bump into rocks and trees. If a float tips over it can fall apart or sink. To help avoid tipping, floats should:

• Be firmly attached to their base
• Be widest toward the bottom
• Have a low center of gravity, closer to the bottom of the float than the top

How big should floats be? 

People may be viewing the floats from 25+ feet away, so floats should be large enough for folks to see, yet small enough for people to move. A good sized float: 

• Fits on top of, or in, an ordinary passenger car / truck
• Can be lifted and moved by 2-3 people

Are there any secret tips for my float? 

Floats do better if they sit in the water (called draft) and not on top of the water. That’s because a float needs to catch the current to move; otherwise they just drift to the side.

• The water depth varies, so you only want about a foot of draft
• A fixed rudder in the back or keel on the bottom of a float can help it go
• A kite-style tail hanging in the water off the back can also help the float go with the flow

Alright, are you in?! Please register your float, and standby for email updates with specifics on when and where to drop your creations!