The revised criteria for Alexandra Blossom Festival floats has been officially announced - no longer will a covering of crepe paper flowers be essential for a float to be entered into the competition.
A rule change means any float that carries a princess and is longer than 4m will be eligible to be voted best float and take home the $2000 prize.
Previously, only floats with paper flowers were able to be judged by public vote.
"The changes were made to encourage float-building in other media and so we could be fair to other float-builders when it came to judging.
"We still encourage the traditional floats made from paper flowers by offering a substantial prize for the best floral float," Blossom Festival committee chairwoman Clair Higginson said.
From this year, there will be three categories for competitive floats: traditional, a floral float with paper flowers and which may carry a princess; contemporary, a category in which entrants are encouraged to show creativity and design in materials other than paper flowers, it may also carry a princess; and school, which may include children walking in costume.
The top prize will be $2000 for the best competitive float, as judged by the public on the day.
Other prizes are: $1000 for best traditional (floral) float; $500 for best contemporary float; $500 for best schools float and $500 for most innovative or creative float. A float could win more than one category.
All categories will be judged by a panel on parade day, September 22.
