Behind it are people that pull ropes that help steer it, and on the float are the most important people from that town, and the craftsman that designed and built the float.
Each little town inside of Kishiwadacity has its own float, and all the residents come out to represent / protect their town during the festival.
Schools shut down, and people take time off work to make sure their town is represented well, and people that have left Osaka for Tokyo or other places for university or work even come back home to take part.