How to Solve the Parade Float Puzzle in Alan Wake 2

In the Local Girl chapter of Alan Wake 2, Saga must solve a parade float puzzle to enter an Overlap and advance the story. Unlocking its secrets will require some puzzle solving and exploration of the Coffee World theme park.

You might first spot the parade float when you first arrive at the Karavela Knights workshop, as it’s sitting right outside. However, you won’t be able to interact with it until you learn of its importance. After you’ve headed into the workshop’s basement to try and retrieve the Clicker, you’ll pick up a Manuscript Page. This informs you that the parade float is your next mission.

When you return to the float, you can check four different parts of it, all of which require an item to function. The float depicts a murder from Watery’s past, during which the victim was stabbed by a masked assailant and thrown into a well. In order to complete the scene, you need the assailant’s mask, his knife, a circuit board to control the killer’s arm, and a cassette tape to provide haunting laughter from the well.

Inspect the four elements of the float and then check the table nearby. This features a list of items required and where to find them. Combine all this information on your Case Board and you’ll be able to head into Coffee World and retrieve the items. There is a gate connecting the workshop to the theme park right next to the float, so you don’t have to walk all the way back around using the main road.

How to Find the Parade Float Cassette Tape in Alan Wake 2

This can be found in the Fair Trade Fun Zone. This area of carnival games can be found next to the Percolator ride where you obtained the Screwdriver needed to access the Gift Shop.

In this area, you’ll see a few cardboard mascots dotted around. These grinning coffee pots are likely to have jump-scared you with their menacing laughter. Head to the stall furthest to the east. There is a coffee mascot here with a small walking space behind it. Here you can access the tape player fixed to the back of it, allowing you to finally silence it. More importantly, this tape is the one you need for the float.

At the parade float, use the Cassette Tape on the well section.

How to Find the Parade Float Circuit Board in Alan Wake 2

For this, you’ll need to retrieve the Circuit Board from the Espresso Express ride. You can see the sign for this from the well near the connecting gate.

Saga will notice the Circuit Board, but it’s not obvious how to get to it. There is a control panel on the platform, but it’s not operational due to the ride’s lack of power. In order to power it up, you’ll need to collect the fuse from the workshop if you haven’t already. In the break room that leads to the basement, there is a table covered in files from the Federal Bureau of Control. The fuse is found on this table in the corner closest to the shoebox.

With fuse in hand, head to the right-hand side of the Espresso Express ride when facing it to find the fusebox. Place the fuse and the ride will activate. Return to the control panel to turn the ride on, then time your second press when the gap with the missing ride car aligns with the gap in the ride’s structure. When it’s stopped, you should be able to climb down and crawl through a small route under the ride to access the Circuit Board. This causes the ride to go haywire, but there is another crawlspace here that will allow you to exit.

At the parade float, use the Circuit Board on the right-hand side.

How to Find the Parade Float Knife in Alan Wake 2

This is the easiest item of the four to find. It’s listed as being in the Gift Shop, an area you will have already accessed to get to this point. When you return to the Gift Shop, just look for the display opposite the entrance door to find a single knife left in a display.

At the parade float, place the Knife in the killer’s hand.

How to Find the Parade Float Mask in Alan Wake 2

The Mask is the only item that doesn’t have a location mentioned on the part list. To solve this, you will need to use Saga’s Profiling ability to learn where it’s hidden.

Go to Profiling in Saga’s Mind Place and select the Koskelas, then then Deputies when prompted. Place all this new information on the Case Board to reveal the location of the Mask as the Huatori Well.

Leave your Mind Place and head to the Well, which is right next to the float through the connecting gate. A moose skull has now appeared here, and this is your Mask. Pick it up and walk it back to the float. Place it on the head of the killer.

Alan Wake 2 is available now for the PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.