Registrations are open for the float procession, being held on September 25, and festival event manager Martin McPherson said subsidies, materials and volunteer labour were available this year to help potential float-builders.
"This is our feature event and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to enter floats," he said yesterday.
A subsidy of up to $500 is available to entrants. Crepe paper and other float materials have been donated and this year a group of retired Alexandra men has volunteered to help construct floats.
A new "contemporary float" section has been added and a vacant building and sheds in Chicago St, Alexandra, are available as a venue for construction.
"In the past, people have struggled to get the labour to help build the floats, so this year we've got a pool of volunteers to help."
A spokesman for the Men's Sheds group, Neil McArthur, said the men were offering their services to help with the design and construction of floats. They had experience building floats and welcomed any more volunteers.
"We've got some spare time and are keen to help out and make the festival a success. The more floats in the procession, the better it is," Mr McArthur said.
Mr McPherson started work full-time as event manager last week and said the initial response to the festival had been overwhelmingly positive. Several new groups have said they will enter a float this year.
"I'm somewhat behind the eight ball in getting ready for this year's festival, but the support is certainly out there."
There was some doubt earlier this year about whether the festival would continue, after recording three consecutive losses and owing more than $80,000 to creditors.
However, the Vincent Community Board voted to cover the 2009 festival losses and board chairwoman Clair Higginson stepped in to chair the festival committee.
Mr McPherson said the budget for this year's event was a work in progress "but I'm confident that currently, it's looking positive".
