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!

Competition Schedule

November 15, 2023

Open enrollment begins for anyone wishing to be eligible for the FLOAT 2024 Designer of the Year competition. Please refer to your “FLOAT Notes” emails for the link to those sign ups

November 22, 2023

Open enrollment begins for anyone wishing to enter individual competitions in the Designer of the Year eligible competitions. PLEASE NOTE: it is possible that some competitions may close before this date, based on the number of people who wish to qualify for Designer of the Year.

December 20, 2023

Deadline for manufacture requested product

January 30, 2024

Deadline for equipment and supplies if you need FLOAT to secure it for you

March 8, 2024

Sculpture Competition – Sponsored by Gemar USA, Anagram Balloons and Balloon Glow

Theme –  Artist Choice

7:15 AM – Work space staging

8:00 AM – Competition begin

8:00 PM – Competition ends

8:30 PM – Clean up deadline

FLOAT’s biggest competition has been given it’s own day! Create of a team of you and nine (9) other people to construct a balloon sculpture of your choosing. And our friends at Gemar USA and Anagram Balloons are offering you as much as $650.00 in free product to build your entry.

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

“Delegates’ Choice” award gets a plaque

March 9, 2024

Entrance Decor Competition – Sponsored by Fanfaire.IO and MegaShine

Theme – “The Product Launch of Fanfaire.IO”

7:15 AM – Work space staging

8:00 AM – Competition begin

12:00 PM – Competition ends

12:30 PM – Clean up deadline

Always one of our most popular competitions, this year you’re designing an entrance piece for a corporate launch party of one of FLOAT’s newest sponsors! You and three other people work for four hours to create a design that will make any CEO smile. Use any brand of balloons you’d like for this one…no limits!

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

“Delegates’ Choice” award gets a plaque

Table Centerpiece (Live) Competition – Sponsored by Mayflower Distribution and Hi-SHINE

Theme – “Cavalcade of New Colors”

2:15 PM – Work space staging

3:00 PM – Competition begin

4:30 PM – Competition ends

5:00 PM – Clean up deadline

In FLOAT’s most intense competition, you and a single crew member work together frantically for just 90 minutes to create a work of art to adorn a table. Mayflower Distribution will provide you with up to $75 worth of materials to create your design, but you MUST show off a newly added balloon color from the last year.

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

“Delegates’ Choice” award gets a plaque

March 10, 2024

Foil Design Competition – Sponsored by Burst Party Co.

Theme – Artist Choice

6:15 AM – Work space staging

7:00 AM – Competition begin

11:00 AM – Competition ends

11:30 AM – Clean up deadline

Another new sponsor takes the helm with a competition at FLOAT! While you get to build anything you want with any brand you want, you MUST use at least one (1) of Burst Party Co.’s foil balloon selections. A fun challenge for creative people to be sure!

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

“Delegates’ Choice” award gets a plaque

Organic Decor Competition – Sponsored by Betallic Inc and MegaShine

Theme – “Strike a Pose!”

1:15 PM – Work space staging

2:00 PM – Competition begin

6:00 PM – Competition ends

6:30 PM – Clean up deadline

Get glammed up for this one, folks…this year’s organic competition is all about the selfie! Create a fun and fabulous photo op that encourages people to engage with it. Our friends at Betallic will provide you up to $200 worth of balloons for your design too…so let’s see what you got!

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

“Delegates’ Choice” award gets a plaque

Hanging Decor Deadline Competition – Sponsored by Clik-Clik and Balloon Glow

Theme – “Music”

2:00 PM – Drop offs begin

4:00 PM – Drop offs end

In a brand new competition at FLOAT, designers are challenged to create a design specifically to be hung and featured at FLOAT’s Opening Night “FLOATchella” event. Hanging materials provided by our friends at Clik-Clik and Balloon Glow to make your entries look good!

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

NOT PART OF THE DESIGNER OF THE YEAR SERIES

March 11, 2024

Mosaic Deadline Competition – Sponsored by The Creative Heart Studio, Tuftex and MegaShine

Theme – “Happy Birthday!”

12:00 PM – Drop offs begin

2:00 PM – Drop offs end

Another new competition at FLOAT, designers are challenged to create a mosaic centered around a birthday! Dazzle our sponsors with your designs and who knows where those photos will take you…

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

NOT PART OF THE DESIGNER OF THE YEAR SERIES

March 12, 2024

Delivery Piece Deadline Competition – Sponsored by Hi-FLOAT and Hi-SHINE

Theme – “Engagement Celebration”

12:00 PM – Drop offs begin

2:00 PM – Drop offs end

Always a fun challenge at FLOAT, this year you’re creating a design that celebrates upcoming nuptials between two loves. Just remember, you MUST use Hi-FLOAT in your design for this ever-popular event!

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

NOT PART OF THE DESIGNER OF THE YEAR SERIES

March 13, 2024

Table Centerpiece Deadline Competition – Sponsored by Balloon Glow

Theme – “Here’s to 10 More!”

10:00 AM – Drop offs begin

12:00 PM – Drop offs end

As the final blast of FLOAT, your entry will be featured as part of FLOAT’s Designer Awards Gala for all to peruse and enjoy! With the celebration of FLOAT’s 10th convention, your job is to celebrate that fact with an emphasis on GOLD.

Cash prizes and plaques to First, Second and Third Place

NOT PART OF THE DESIGNER OF THE YEAR SERIES

The FLOATee Awards

Theme – Varied
Cost – $3 to $7 per entry (based on deadlines)

Our popular photo submission competition is back for 2024. This year’s FLOATee challenges will involve 32 different categories that you can enter, ranging from arches to private events to techniques.

One winner will be announced in each category – Winners will be announced at FLOAT’s Opening Night ceremony.

MORE INFO WILL BE POSTED BY DECEMBER 1, 2023

Designer of the Year

In 2024, anyone hoping to be awarded the title of FLOAT’s Designer of the Year will have to enter at least three (3) of our five live designer competitions (entrance decor, live table centerpiece, sculpture, foil design and organic). You can pick whichever events you want to enter or all of them! Artists who enter more than three events will get the benefit of having their top three scores applied to the DOTY standings, with their lower score(s) being dropped.

The talented individual who wins the coveted title of Designer of the Year will also win a cash prize of $1000.00, a trophy and guaranteed approval as an instructor for FLOAT 2026.