2024 Holiday Parade

1. For safety reasons and to prevent excessive refuse, nothing can be thrown from the floats or handed out by participants. (No candy, toys, confetti, coupons, beads, flyers, etc.).
2. The use of silly string or poppers is not permitted.

1. Use of trailers or more “traditional” float design will be considered first for parade inclusion.
2. Optimum float size 6’ x 10’.
3. Including tow unit, floats must not exceed 50 feet in length.
4. No entries can exceed 12 feet in height.
5. May be towed (tractor or truck/auto) or self-propelled.
6. Watchers required – one person per wheel of the vehicle is required.

1. Walking units include musical groups, drill teams, dance teams or unique units. Children may participate in the parade, but those under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult or be under adult supervision.
2. All walkers must be in costumes or reflect the holiday theme.
3. Please do not stop to perform, this holds up the flow of the parade.

1. No live Santas may be a part of your unit; our official Santas are at the end of the parade. No drivers or participants may dress like Santa. Anyone dressed as Santa will be asked to leave the parade.
2. Santa hats, as a part of other holiday outfits or décor, are permitted.

1. Live animals are permitted, but must be approved by City of Gainesville parade organizers. Aggressive or overly noisy animals will not be tolerated.
2. All horse units MUST include a cleanup crew to walk behind horses in the parade.

1. City of Gainesville staff has the final approval of all parade entries.
2. If any entries are deemed inappropriate for the family / holiday theme, they will be removed from the parade. (Hate-speech, political verbiage, profanity, “scary” images or characters, etc. will not be permitted). The City of Gainesville cannot accept parade participants/floats promoting or including the following:
   1. Alcohol
   2. Tobacco products
   3. Illegal drugs
   4. Explicit sexual material
   5. Illegal activity
   6. Political issues

3. Parade staff reserves the right to remove any unit from the line of march for any reason or cause without advance notice.

1. For elected officials, politicians, and other agency representatives, only the name and elected position/title will be permitted on the vehicle/float signage or design.
2. Please remember that the event is not a platform for political, religious or social issues, and no unit will be permitted to participate in the parade if, in the judgment of parade staff, it reflects such issues.

1. For the comfort and safety of all participants and attendees, smoking (including vaping) and drinking alcoholic beverages in or around the parade is prohibited.

1. All units must be in place and ready to go by 11:30 a.m. We do not guarantee your entry into the staging area if you arrive after 11:30 a.m. 

1. Only vehicles driving in the parade are allowed to enter the staging area.
2. All vehicles must have valid license plates, current registration, inspection and insurance up to date.
3. We encourage you to show up with a full tank of gas.
4. Vehicles transporting walking groups to the staging area are not permitted in the staging area.
5. Use of excessively loud vehicle horns is not permitted. Remember, we have animals in the parade, and we do not want people to mistake your horns for emergency vehicles.
6. Bicycles, motorcycles and mini-cars are accepted.
7. Automobiles, trucks and vans - An individual vehicle is not eligible to participate unless it is unique (i.e. recognized classic, antique car, or commercially wrapped vehicles). Trucks are only used to pull floats. Other vehicles may be approved at the directive of parade staff after review of application.

1. Weather - For the safety of participants and spectators, if weather or other unforeseen events occur that are out of our control the City of Gainesville reserves the right to cancel.

1. Sirens during the parade are not permitted except for use by police/fire vehicles.
2. Parade floats which include hay, paper streamers or decorations shall have a minimum of one fire extinguisher affixed to the trailer.
3. No flammables or fuel containers are allowed on a parade float or trailer transporting people.
4. There shall be no smoking prior to and around a parade float while in movement.
5. Fireworks, poppers, or any flame-throwing devices are strictly prohibited.
6. If there is a fire extinguisher required, it must be displayed and serviceable.

1. We need a cell phone number for one contact person for every parade entry. Make sure your phone is on and charged. (This is in case the committee needs to reach you prior to lineup).

1. Parade participants must travel the full length of the parade route, which is approximately one (1) mile long.
2. Once your group has completed the parade route, please do not re-enter the parade.
3. Once you have begun moving in the parade, please do not stop along the route. The parade is to continue moving without stopping.
   • To reiterate, stationary demonstrations, routines or performances are not permitted along the parade route.

1. All motorized floats, whether self-propelled or pulled by a tow unit, are required to provide Commercial General Liability Insurance with a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence and a $2,000,000 general aggregate and Automobile Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 combined single limit for Bodily Injury and Property Damage. The City of Gainesville shall be listed as an additional insured as required by this agreement.
2. If the entrant is renting a float from a float company that will supply the tow vehicle, the float company must provide the Certificate of Insurance with the parade requirements outlined above.
3. If the entrant is using a commercial towing company, the towing company must provide the Certificate of Insurance with the parade requirements outlined above.
4. For personal vehicles, current proof of personal insurance is a required attachment with entry form.

Approval