Intergalactic Krewe of

Chewbacchus

Rules and Advice for Building Contraptions

We are the first truly open source parade with an emphasis on DIY, homemade, and sustainable materials and practices. Any and fandoms are welcome, and members can build almost anything contraption to roll in the parade, as long as they can be pushed, pedaled, pulled, or electric-powered (particle propulsion accepted). We utilize tricycles, shopping carts, robotic power chairs, rickshaws, golf carts, and more.

There is no single “best” or “right” way to do it… however, here are the MOST IMPORTANT general guidelines for contraption construction.

  1. All Chewbacchus Parade Contraptions should be Drunk Proof. Don’t build something that is overly difficult to operate. Err on the side of whatever is the simplest and most versatile in all things and your life will be better.
  2. All contraptions MUST be less than 11 feet tall. Any contraptions above that height will not be able to pass the power lines and tree line on the route. Any contraptions above this height that are brought to the lineup will be asked not to roll in the parade.
  3. Riders are not allowed on contraptions. People riding trikes, pushing carts, riding in golf carts are okay. People riding atop float structures are not allowed in Chewbacchus. We are a walking parade (traditional float parades require inspections and strapping procedures for floats).
  4. TEST your contraption BEFORE rolling it in the Chewbacchus Parade. Your contraption needs to be able to easily move at very slow speeds and stop and go as needed. It must be safe and it must be functional. Gaps develop in parades. That’s normal and OK. If your contraption creates hassles and hazards because it doesn’t really maneuver well, that is not OK. If your contraption causes problems for other parade-goers you might be asked to remove it from the parade (i.e. chain it up to a telephone pole and roll without it).
  5. Standard Shopping Carts are made for rolling on linoleum floors in supermarkets NOT the potholded streets of New Orleans.  If you build a contraption onto a standard shopping cart chassis you should replace the small standard casters with big heavy-duty casters or pneumatic tires from Harbor Freight. THE BIGGER THE CASTER THE BETTER.
    If you create your own trailer/chassis you should mount swivel casters on the front and rigid casters on the back end.  SWIVEL ON THE FRONT.  RIGID ON THE BACK.   It’ll be a lot easier to maneuver and push/pull in the vast majority of cases.
  6. Solid rubber casters are superior to pneumatic tires because you don’t have to worry about flat tires or maintenance. But, if your contraption has pneumatic tires… you should bring a can of Fix-A-Flat with you during the parade in case you get a flat.
  7. Be Prepared! Things can and will go wrong on parade day, whether it’s a wardrobe malfunction or a contraption breakdown, be prepared to address any number of problems or issues on parade day with your own Oh Shit Kit.
  8. Bring a chain and a padlock or a bike lock with you in case your contraption breaks down severely and must be abandoned on the route. If you lock it up to a Stop Sign or telephone pole, there is a good chance you will be able to go retrieve it after the parade and save it.
  9. 12v Power Systems/Batteries/Electronics/LEDs are the recommended standard for EVERYTHING. Deep Cycle Marine Grade 12v Batteries are the tried and true method for powering the lighting, sound and animatronic components for contraptions.
  10. What you use as your chassis should depend on what you are trying to build. Keep it light, simple, and structurally solid. Think about what you need your contraption to do: throw storage; music; tool storage and build around what you need. The creative possibilities are endless.