The Sumner Downtown Association is officially looking for a new place to house its parade float.

According to SDA Executive Director Arla Holzschuh said the Association was notified this past week that the float was no longer going to be able to stay in the barn that has housed it for the past five years.

“The property has been sold, ” she said. “We have to move everything.”

The float must be moved by May 20.

The float and all of the props associated with it has been kept in a small, donated barn just south of city limits, but with the sale of the land, a new location must be found.

“We need, at the minimum, an interim location to store the float,” Holzschuh said.

Holzschuh said she is presently working with the city to find a temporary home for the 36-foot long float. The SDA owns, stores and insures the float, which Holzschuh said helps promote the city of Sumner in multiple parades.

“It’s a goodwill ambassador for the city of Sumner,” she said.

The SDA is a non-profit organization and Holzschuh said she is hoping someone will donate a facility because rent to house the vehicle was not part of this year’s budget. This year, due to budget cuts, the SDA lost a $25,000 contribution from the city of Sumner.

The float measures 36 feet long by 14 feet though the sides fold in, reducing the width.

This year, the float, which is built and maintained by an army of volunteers, won the Festival Floral Award for the most effective use of fresh flowers at the 78th Annual Daffodil Festival.

Anyone with space or money to donate for the effort can contact Holzschuh at 253-720-9846. For more information visit www.sumnerdowntown.com.