A group of Alexandra women are laying down a challenge to grab your friends and enter a float in this year's Alexandra Blossom Festival.

The ‘Grans Who Can’ are 12 friends entering a float for the second year running, after the success of their first creative float, Clifford the Big Red Dog, in 2022.

Clifford won the best floral float and the hearts of the festival goers, taking out the public vote. 

The grans donated their prize money to St John and the Otago Rescue Helicopter.

The group is building another float for the festival. Details are under wraps, but they want others to join in the fun and enter too.

“Find some friends, ring them up and say let’s do something fun,’’ Laurie Paterson said.

“There’s still plenty of time to get one together.’’

Many of the grans were encouraged to get involved by a friend, and through that the group had grown.  

The women get together regularly for an afternoon of flower making, cake and catch ups, making the task more fun than work, Laurie said.

A bunch of gal pals making crepe paper flowers to adorn their float in the annual parade. 

Building a float did not have to be daunting, and there was plenty of help available.

“There’s lots of people around that would help, just ask,’’ Laurie said.

Float entries are open and the Alexandra blossom festival committee is extending the support for floats introduced last year.

 The festival committee will donate $750 to clubs, schools and kindergartens entering a float, or in the instance of a business, or private group, to a charity of your choice.

Float entries also receive $500 towards materials, free crepe paper and free entry into Pioneer Park for Saturday in the Park.

Float entries compete for cash prizes; a $2,000 people's choice award, $1,000 best floral float, $500 best small float, $1,000 best educational float and $500 best contemporary float.

The grand parade is a cornerstone of New Zealand’s longest running festival, now in its 66th year, with a procession of vehicles, floats and performers that runs through the heart of Alexandra.  

For more than six decades an array of floats have enthralled locals and visitors alike. 

Floats and florreys (decorated New World supermarket trolleys) are a way for local community groups and clubs to be involved in the festival fun.  

For information about floats and florreys email: [email protected].

Entry forms can be downloaded online.