Windigo Fest will be a celebration of all things Halloween taking place October 6th-8, 2023. The spine-chilling festival will take place rain or shincat the Manitowoc County Expo Center at 4921 Expo Drive in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Manitowoc is known for it's unique "quaint" little tourist hot spot know as Dead by Dawn Dead & Breakfast featuring The Shrunken Head, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, and theRahr West Art Museum. All Hallows Eve enthusiasts with a hunger for the strange and unusual can experience a weekend filled with various seasonal activities including outstanding music, costume contests, side show performances, dark artexhibits and contests, bizarre performances, Windigo Olympics, vendors, food trucks, and all theHalloween mayhem you can imagine.

On Friday evening we will kick off the event with various bands and performances. After a day full of Halloween havoc on Saturday, at 7:06, a parade through the grounds will display the Midwest's best competitive costumes, floats, and performers followed by music on the main stage. Join in on one of the many prize winning contests or just slither into the horrific hoopla that Windigo Fest has to offer! Come for the dayor stay for the weekend but don't be caught dead without checkingout the annual All Hallows Eve Windigo Fest! Check back often to see updates!

The Windigo Fest Parade will embellish the grounds with decorated floats, marching bands, performance groups, costume extraordinaire, and anyone who want to display their affection for the macabre. Windigo Fest invites you to participate in our Parade on Saturday, October 7th at 7:06 p.m. In celebration, we will be awarding trophies and cash prizes in the following categories!

Float, Mini Float, Specialty Unit. Trophies awarded in each category. Costume Categories / Prizes / Awards:

1. Youth Class: for ages 13 and under. Judging for the youth will take place before the parade at 4:00pm on the second stage, in the vendor pavilion. 3 Places will be Awarded Trophies and the top 3 will kick off the Windigo Fest Parade. A parent or guardian must accompany all contestants in the Youth category, age 13 or under.

2.Adult Parade and Costume Contest Event First Place $1,000, Second, $300, Third $200

The costume contest will occur during and after the parade. Participants must be lined up in their designated position no later than 6:30. This will take place in any weather so be prepared! After the parade, all contestants must go to the Windigo Fest Costume judging area near the end of the parade for close up judging.

Date: Saturday October 7th, 2023

Time: 7:06pm (Must be lined up by 6:30

Location: Parking lot located on the west side of the Ice Center on the Manitowoc County Expo Grounds, 4921 Expo Dr. Manitowoc, WI 54220

You can be assured that the details will be seen and your adherence to character is paramount.

All costumes must be entered by the person who created it. Models may be utilized to showease your costume. However, the creator need not be present with the model at the contest to be eligible for award consideration. If you choose to use a model, be sure to include all your information on your application. All costumes and props must be of original construction or show major modifications/alterations to pre-existing materials. No costumes that are purchased or otherwise obtained from a professional or retail source will be accepted for judging, but are welcome to join in the parade. Exceptions are made for wigs, shoes, jewelry, belts & accessories. The more of your costume you make, the more impressed the judges will be! All participants must legibly complete a costume contest entry form. Forms must be printed from www.windigofest .com under the contest tab. Contestants must participate in the parade at 7:06pm Saturday October 7th to showcase their costume or prop. After the parade, all contestants must go to the Windigo Fest Costume judging area near the end of the parade for close up judging. Awards will be presented at approximately 10:30 during the band break.

All costumes, props, and weapons must adhere to local, state and federal laws and policies. No live steel, no functioning or previously functioning projectile weapons, no fire, smoke and/or pyrotechnics must be approved. If you have special requests or need special permission for anything out of the ordinary or anything listed above, please send your written request to dead@deadbydawn.com.

No indecent exposure or nudity. No profanity or lewd behavior allowed. Any contestant who violates this rule will immediately be removed from the parade and be disqualified from the contest.

No use of animals unless approved by Windigo Fest Producer, "Dead By Dawn Productions

The judges' decisions are final.

Dead by Dawn Productions LLC and the Windigo Society management reserves the right to modify, update, or amend these rules at any time.

Dead by Dawn Productions LLC and the Windigo Society may record or photograph contest entries at its discretion. Entry into this contest constitutes an agreement by the entrants to allow Dead by Dawn Productions LLC (Windigo Fest, and the Windigo Society to use their likeness or image in any current or future advertisement, promotion, or product. Now, for the most important rule..... Have Fun!

Any questions about the contest not addressed? Call (920)683-3268

This manual is published by Windigo Fest to help participants, sponsors and workers understand the rules and regulations, policies and relationships that affect them. It also acts as a guide for parade participants in the construction, design and safety criteria involved with the parade. We want everyone to enjoy the parade, yet keep it safe for participants and spectators.

Please read all information before completing your application.

Itis very important that you read ALL information carefully. The first portion of the manual contains general information and rules that must be followed by all units. Parade participants are now classified according to the type of unit they are: float, specialty, etc. and each type of unit has guidelines specific to that unit. The last page is the application and waiver.

The following items must be returned and completed by the deadline to be considered for participation: Completed application(s) with signed waiver

Deadline for all applications is Oct. 7th, 2023 @ 3:00pm.

General Rules and Regulations

The Windigo Fest Parade Committee reserves the right to dismiss any unit or person from the parade at any time for failure to follow any of the following rules and regulations.

Distribution of Materials

Candy is permitted, but cannot be thrown from vehicles. Unit members walking near the crowd line may hand out items, with pre-approval by the Parade Coordinator. Please list any items you would like to distribute on your application.

Order of Appearance

The Parade Coordinator will determine the order of appearance for all units in the Parade. The order is determined based on time of application received, variety and best utilization of participants, and logistics.

Your appearance/ line-up spot may be altered or cancelled if your arrival in the assembly area is not on time.

Code of Conduct

Individuals and organizations participating in the Windigo Fest Parade are expected to perform courteously, in good taste and with safety in mind at all times during the assembly, execution and de-staging of the parade. No alcohol allowed in parade.

Vehicles

Drivers of all vehicles in the Parade and those entering the parade line-up area must have a valid driver's license, have proper proof of insurance as required by state law, and must be at least 18 years old.

Assembly / Line-up Area

Once the unit is in position in the line-up area, drivers should be in attendance at all times and available to move the unit as necessary.

Unit support vehicles, i.e., parents dropping off children, horse trailers, vehicles bringing in props, etc. will NOT be allowed into the line-up area. During assembly, the area becomes very congested, one-way routes full of pedestrians. Unless a vehicle is a registered parade entry, driving on the route is prohibited. Please pass this information on to your participants!!

Parade Movement

The Windigo Fest Committee and Parade Committee has worked very hard to make sure that the parade route is free of interruptions; therefore, units will NOT be permitted to stop and perform, except for pre-determined production units. All maneuvering, choreography, and marching styles must be performed while moving forward.

Inclement Weather Policy

Should inclement weather occur prior to the parade, Festival officials will determine if it is sufficiently safer to cancel or delay the parade. You may decline to participate when weather threatens to damage uniforms, props or instruments.

The Windigo Fest Parade Committee plans to proceed with the parade, rain or shine. We request that you make provisions for bad weather, and we will not refund registration fees because of parade delay or cancellation due to inclement weather.

If the parade is cancelled for any reason, the costume contest will still occur under shelter.

In its most basic definition, a float is "a flat topped vehicle without sides for carrying displayed objects in a procession or parade". If you add your own creative touch, a float can turn into anything you can dream up. You can build floats on trailers, trucks, cars, recreational vehicles - almost anything that can move. Most floats, however, start with a flat platform such as a truck bed or a trailer and are generally pulled by a small tractor, or truck, which is also included in the decorative scheme.

Mini floats are small, possibly motorized vehicles that do not qualify as full-size floats (golf carts, scooters, 3-wheelers, go-carts, derby cars, shopping carts etc.) These vehicles travel by wheels but are not street-legal and will most likely be brought in on a trailer. All entries must be decorated.

 

Specialty units are defined as non-motorized, entertaining, and creative. A specialty unit is not just a group of people walking down the street, but it could be a group of people in colorful costumes incorporating the spectacular use of choreography, props and theme to entertain the crowd. Examples include: cultural performance/ dance groups, bands, drill teams, clown clubs,

AWARDS Windigo Fest awards will be given to the parade entries based on the categories listed

 

* All animal entries must approved prior and provide their own method of clean-up on the route (i.e., "pooperscoopers")

I, ____________________, as a representative for the ______________ (organization) understand that I am (we are) choosing to participate in the 2022 Windigo Fest Parade at my (our) own risk and neither the City of Manitowoc nor the Windigo Fest Committee nor Manitowoc County Expo Center nor the Windigo Society accepts liability or responsibility regarding animals, vehicles, equipment or personal injury during this event. I also understand that throwing candy or other items is prohibited (but may be handed to onlookers) and that by violating that or other safety provisions, we acknowledge that we can be removed from the parade. I have read and understand the rules of the Windigo Fest Parade and Costume Contest.

Submit signed application and script online or mail to: Windigo Society 719 A Franklin Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220 (920)683-3268

 

1. Authority: I represent to the Windigo Fest Parade Committee that I am fully authorized for and bind the undersigned entrant regarding our entry in the 2022 Windigo Fest Parade. On behalf of the entrant, I agree that our Entry and all persons associated with it shall comply with all rules prescribed by the Committee as deemed necessary for the efficient and safe conduct of the parade and all related activities. I agree to conduct our Entry and myself in a proper, appropriate manner during the event and related activities and not to engage in any activity that is dangerous or likely to cause harm, injury or damage to the person or property of others.

2. Indemnification: as a condition of being a participant of the parade, I agree on behalf of all participants in the Entry, to assume full responsibility for my conduct and the conduct and activities of our Entry and to indemnify and hold the City of Manitowoc, Windigo Fest, Dead by Dawn Productions LLC, Manitowoc County Expo Center, and the Windigo Society harmless from any liability, claim, loss or expense (including attorney's fees) caused or arising from (a) any conduct or negligence by me or any person or part of our Entry that causes harm, damage, or injury to myself or others (b) any breach or omission of my representations or warranties, (c) any claim by my participants, employee, subcontractor or supplier, or (d) any infringement or violation by myself or others in the Entry of the rights of others.

3. WAIVER and RELEASE: I, _________________________, (name of Participant/Sponsor), do hereby release and discharge the City of Manitowoc, Manitowoc County Expo Center, Windigo Fest, the Windigo Society, and Dead by Dawn Productions LLC, their officers, agents, volunteers, and employees from all claims, demands, and causes of action of every kind whatsoever for any damages and/or injuries which may result from my participation or the participation of my child or the participation of anyone involved with our Entry in the Windigo Fest Parade.

4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY:

I, ____________________________ (name of Participant/Sponsor) do voluntarily agree to participate in this Event and the undersigned acknowledges that there may be some hazard of personal accident or injury during the participation of said event and willingly accepts responsibility for any personal injury that may arise from this voluntary participation. The undersigned agrees to hold the City of Manitowoc, Windigo Fest, the Windigo Society, Manitowoc County Expo Center, and Dead by Dawn Productions LLC harmless in the event of a personal injury or accident involving any participant of said Entry.