You Think You've Got What it Takes to Be a Star? Then COMPETE at FLOAT!
Mar 8th – Mar 10th, 2024 | Chicago, IL
Looking to add some excitement to your FLOAT experience? Then consider entering one or more of our design competitions…you never know; you might end up being our Designer of the Year!
PLEASE NOTE
Competitions for FLOAT 2024 will be updated in Summer 2023. The information featured below is from our 2022 convention.
Competition Schedule
Saturday, January 22nd
8:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Entrance Decor
Theme – TBD
Entry Fee – $50 deposit – refunded when you compete
Put together a team of yourself and up to three (3) of your friends and colleagues and design an entrance decor treatment based on this year’s theme. While you can be as creative as you’d like, like any event you’re limited by size and time.
Four awards will be presented in this category (First Place, Second Place, Third Place and Delegates’ Choice)
2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Table Centerpiece LIVE
Theme – TBD
You and one (1) assistant work crazily against the clock to create a custom table centerpiece based on the theme of the event. But seriously…..hurry! You’ve only got 90 minutes to create your entry…this is a LIVE centerpiece competition.
Four awards will be presented in this category (First Place, Second Place, Third Place and Delegates’ Choice)
6:00 PM to 2:00 AM
Sculpture Competition
Theme – TBD
Where would we be without the sculpture competition? You and your team of up to ten (10) people total have seven hours to complete a design from start to finish in an 8′ by 8′ by 8′ space. Considered the biggest challenge at FLOAT, let’s see what you can come up with!
Awards will be presented for First Place, Second Place, Third Place and Delegates’ Choice.
Competition Schedule
Sunday, January 23rd
7:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Foil Design Competition
Theme – TBD
Fee – $50 deposit – refunded when you compete
Competitors will have four hours to construct an artistic design made predominantly out of foil balloons. It can be a sculpture, an accent element or anything else as long as it’s made nearly all from foils.
Awards will be presented for First Place, Second Place, Third Place and Delegates’ Choice
2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Organic Design Competition
Theme – TBD
Fee – $50 deposit – refunded when you compete
Competitors will have four hours to construct an artistic design made using the organic style of decor.
Awards will be presented for First Place, Second Place, Third Place and Delegates’ Choice
Competition Schedule
Wednesday, January 26th
12:00 PM
Table Centerpiece DEADLINE
Theme – TBD
Entry Fee – $10.00 per entry – multiple entries permitted
Imagine what kind of work you can come up with absolutely no time restriction…heck, you can start working on this event NOW! Just make sure it’s turned in no later than noon on Wednesday the 26th. Late entries will not be accepted.
Three awards will be presented in this category (First Place, Second Place, Third Place)
The FLOATee Awards
Deadline for entries January 7th, 2022
Entry Fee – $5.00 per submission per category
Our popular photo submission competition is back for 2022. This year’s FLOATee challenges will involve 32 different categories that you can enter, ranging from arches to private events to techniques. And remember, all of the proceeds from entry fees to the FLOATee Awards go into the FLOAT Scholarship program, which leads to FREE registrations to FLOAT 2024.
One winner will be announced in each category – Winners will be announced at FLOAT’s Opening Night ceremony.