People from around the globe participating in Odyssey of the Mind crowded Hilton Coliseum to kick off the Float and Banner Parade.

According to one of the announcers(name), the parade would be “a great opportunity for everyone to express their creativity.”

Teams from countries and states walked their banners around the stage and in front of the judges, who judged each team’s banner based on creativity.

Some teams, like South Carolina, had a song and dance that accompanied their banner. As each team passed, the announcer provided fun facts about each area the teams represented, and explained the banners meaning when necessary.

Some regions had floats rather than banners, which followed similar judging rules as the banners.

Washington, D.C. and Maryland made a float together based on their shared history. Their “pentacrab” had five sides, each with its own historical meaning.

Some floats didn’t tie into a regions’ history. Delaware’s float, for example, had people roll onto the stage in a pirate ship pushed by people in t-rex costumes.

Banner competition winners:

• California
• South Carolina
• Japan
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Vermont
• Missouri
• Virginia
• Hong Kong

Float parade winners:

• Mexico
• Maryland/Washington, D.C.
• Maine
• Hong Kong
• Texas
• New York
• Japan
• Delaware
• British Columbia
• Georgia