DUNEDIN MARDI GRAS PARADE APPLICATION

Any organization that has been denied entry into the Dunedin Mardi Gras will receive a refund of their Entry Fee.

If your unit can no longer participate in the Dunedin Mardi Gras Parade and would like to request a refund of your entry fee, you must do so by February 16, 2022. No refunds will be issued after this date under any circumstances.

Check made payable to the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association, Inc. You may also request an online payment option from our Treasurer.

COMBINATION WALKERS AND VEHICLES:

No more than 10 adults handing out material with floats. Children may walk behind the vehicle. Walkers are not allowed to jump on and off of floats. Candy must exclude lollipops, any candy with a stick, and boxed candy with sharp points or edges. Candy must be underhand tossed or handed out.

WALKERS:

Each parade entry will be allowed a maximum of 10 adults to distribute candy or promotional items. Candy must exclude lollipops, any candy with a stick, and boxed candy with sharp points or edges. Candy must be underhand tossed or handed out.

The following rules apply to units with walkers:

●  Walkers must be physically able to walk the entire parade route in a brisk manner without stopping.
●  Walkers must remain at the same pace with the parade unit to ensure proper timing and spacing.
●  Those who are distributing materials must remain at the sides of the unit, close enough to the audience to hand materials directly to the crowd.
●  Walkers are not allowed to jump on and off of float or unit.

2023 Dunedin Mardi Gras Parade

PARADE PARTICIPATION INFORMATION

You are an important part of this event, and the DDMA would like it to run as smoothly and safely as possible. Please review the following important information carefully. If you have questions, need more details or have ideas of how we can improve, please email us at President@DunedinMerchants.com.

Parade registration deadline is February 10, 2023 or when unit capacity is reached, whichever occurs first. Limiting entries in the parade may be necessary to ensure proper flow and that the parade’s running time is kept to approximately one hour.
The parade is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2023. Line-up begins at 4:30 pm. Refer to the parade email for your assigned lineup. Your entire unit must be properly in line before 5:15pm or it will be eliminated from the parade.
The parade route will be from Douglas Avenue/Beltrees north to Skinner Boulevard.
All parade units are required to be safe, decorated, and have entertainment value, incorporating the Mardi Gras theme.

All units are encouraged to include amplified or live music in the parade.
Each entry MUST keep pace with the unit that precedes it and must not permit gaps to occur between units. All candy must exclude lollipops, candy with a stick, and boxed candy with sharp points or edges. All candy must be given out after the “Start” flags at Beltrees and Douglas Ave.

There will be no Confetti Cannons or anything similar used in the Parade. If your entry does use something you will be responsible for any fines and extra clean-up fees charged to the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association, Inc. You will also be banned from future Parades for Three Years.

For the safety of our parade, participants, and spectators, any unit that is determined to be unsafe by Parade Officials and/or Sheriff's Department will not be allowed to participate in the parade.

All drivers/operators of any motorized vehicles must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and provide proof of a valid state-issued driver’s license and proof of insurance, including the carrier name and policy number.

All units with vehicles and generators must have a fire extinguisher on the unit. The fire extinguisher must say 2A10BC.

Insurance — Businesses with commercial auto policies entering a float or operating a motor vehicle must provide Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association, Inc. a certificate of insurance showing not less than $1,000,000 liability coverage and naming the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association, Inc. as additional insured.

PARADE PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS STAGING AREA:

●  Staging area for the parade will be on Douglas Ave from Beltrees St to Union St.
●  Staging area for VIP vehicles is located between the Hale Senior Activity Center and VFW.
●  Staging area for fire trucks along Beltrees St west side. Approach from Alt. 19/Bayshore Blvd.
●  Vehicles with Band equipment only: Enter onto Plaza Dr. from Milwaukee Ave. Park in the center bay of the Library parking lot.
●  All Floats should approach Douglas Ave from the south via Union St.
●  All units will find their parade number position plainly marked by numbered signs along Douglas Ave.
●  Even-numbered units—east side of Douglas.
●  Odd-numbered units—west side of Douglas.

WALKING UNITS (including band members):

All walking unit participants may be dropped off in the Dunedin Library parking lot. Take Milwaukee Ave to Plaza Dr; turn onto Plaza Dr; follow signs to the drop-off area. Then follow exit signs back out to Milwaukee (Library parking lot for drop off only).

Once units are in place and ready for the parade to begin, for your safety, please:

Parade MUST BE moving at all times.
Do not stop to perform.

Once the parade is moving, maintain a distance of 10 feet behind the unit immediately ahead of you, unless otherwise instructed by the starter or parade guide (orange vests).

Understand that if you have driving and walking units together in the parade, only adults can hand out candy and materials. Children must be behind the vehicle and not interact with the moving vehicle.

Spectator and participant safety is of paramount importance to the City of Dunedin.

Therefore, due to the risk involved, and in an effort to prevent any injuries, we recommend the use of parade walkers to disburse candy/favors, rather than throwing them from moving vehicles. If you choose to throw candy/favors from your vehicle or float, please use extreme caution and consideration for spectator safety. Do not throw items with sharp edges, a stick or lollipops.

Drivers should be dressed in an appropriate fashion to complement their entry.
This is a drug/alcohol/smoke-free event. Please do not permit other participants/ drivers to smoke or drink. This will be strictly enforced by the Event Holder and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department.

PARADE PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS DISBAND OF PARADE UNITS:

Walkers will continue to the left of the “Parade End” sign and proceed north to Skinner Blvd. and turn left on the sidewalk to the Pinellas Trail. Continue down Pinellas Trail back towards downtown.

Vehicles will continue to the right of the “Parade End” sign; those that need to unload or fasten down their floats once past the sign should merge left between the cones. Once unloaded, vehicles will continue north merging back to the right lane on Douglas to Skinner and exiting to the right on Skinner.

All other vehicles (not needing to stop) continue to the right of the “Parade End” sign and stay right and continue north on Douglas to Skinner and exit right.

I have read and understand the parade guidelines.