IMPORTANT - PARADE GUIDELINES AND RULES
PLANNING YOUR ENTRY
• ALL Entries must reflect a holiday theme, or the theme chosen by the parade committee - “Music & Magic". The parade is presented by Primrose School of GAllatin and powered by the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Lineup begins at 10:30 AM for Floats and 11:00 AM for Walkers. All animal entries will organize in the parking lot across from the Highpoint Health Sumner (formerlly SRMC) Building on Steam Plant Road.
• Large walking groups (i.e. Scout groups, school groups, church groups, etc.) should assemble off-site and carpool to the parade line up. Limited access will be given to the parking lot behind Sumner Regional Medical Center on Richland Avenue. First access will be given to local high school bands, ROTC groups, and large car show groups. Additional staging areas may be added as we get closer to the parade. If you have permission to access this area, please keep all participants in your group together and ready to move at your entry number. It is extremely important to have your group ready to move! Step off is promptly at NOON! It is important to keep the parade moving!
• NO OTHER SANTA IS ALLOWED. No Santa Suites/Costumes or Impersonators of Santa Claus are allowed. Santa is provided by the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Entries may be historical, humorous, or modern in design, as long as they are in good taste. Remember a large part of the audience will be children.
• All vehicles, including go-carts and similar vehicles, must be driven by a licensed driver and have proof of insurance. Drivers and vehicle owners are liable for any damage or accidents occurring from the use of their vehicle at all times.
• Float entries may not exceed 12 feet in width and 14 feet in height.
• Entries may use sound amplification for musical purposes only! No speeches, sales pitches, or political speeches, please! You will be asked to leave the parade if you are addressing the crowd via sound amplification! Sound amplification systems must be no louder than 70-80 decibels. (Marching Bands are exempt from the decibel level.) If you will have sound/music, please let the Chamber know no later than November 22nd. No sound may be added after November 22nd.
• The parade will be held RAIN OR SHINE. Please dress appropriately. No refunds will be given due to weather-related issues.
• There will be NO PERFORMANCE STOPS along the parade route. You may, however, perform as the parade is moving. You must keep moving. Remember: Be courteous of other parade entries. Everyone is in the parade to have fun!
BEFORE THE PARADE - (Staging Area Opens at 10 a.m. The Staging Area is Steam Plant Road)
Please note: Traffic on Steam Plant Road will be ONE WAY coming from Airport Road. Do not enter Steam Plant Road from Hartsville Pike, Bledsoe Street, or any other street along the way, you will only be admitted from the Steam Plant Road entrance off of Airport Road. No Exceptions. SAVE TIME by entering the correct way the first time around.
• Each entry will be assigned a number that is your place in the line-up. The number and entry confirmation must be picked up at one of the Mandatory Parade Participant Meetings. The meetings are as follows: Tuesday, December 3rd at 5:00 PM, Thursday, December 5th at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM at the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce, The Station, 117 W Main Street, in Gallatin. (NOTE NEW MEETING LOCATION)
Reminder: If you did not attend one of these meetings, you will not be allowed to participate in the parade.
• Parade entry number MUST be placed on the driver side of the first vehicle in your entry or carried by someone at the front of your group. The number must be visible as you pass the Gallatin Public Library (123 Main Street) at the judging station.
• You are responsible for notifying all of the participants of your number and information about staging/Line-up for this parade.
• Numbers will be visible on the right-hand side of Steam Plant Road to assist you in finding your place in the line-up.
• Steam Plant Road will be limited to floats/entries and traffic dropping off materials or people only. NO parking permitted along Steam Plant Road unless your vehicle is in the parade.
• A ROLL CALL of all entries will be conducted at 11:30 am, once this is complete, any unit that has not arrived will be eliminated from the parade. The parade will start promptly at NOON. NO LATE ARRIVALS! You will not be allowed to enter after 11:40 am.
JUDGING
• Judges will evaluate the entry’s interpretation of the parade theme from the balcony at the Gallatin Public Library (123 Main Street), located on Gallatin’s Historic Downtown Square as well as Oak Grove Farms (517 West Main). Additional locations may be added as we get closer to the event.
• Winners will be announced on or before December 21st.
• The Mayor’s Award will be judged along the parade staging area between 11:00 am and 11:30 am. Be sure you are ready if you wish to be judged for the Mayor’s Award.
DURING THE PARADE
• Please stay in line with your assigned number. The parade committee has carefully planned the parade line-up to create variety AND minimize the possibility of performances, music, and sirens interfering with each other. Music may not be added once your entry has been assigned an entry number.
• For the safety of all, no materials may be thrown along the parade route. This includes candy, beads, t-shirts, flyers, literature, etc. However, walkers alongside entries may hand out candy and other items. Violations of this rule will result in removal from the Parade.
• Parade speed is a maximum of 5 mph. Entries who falter may be asked to step aside and let others pass. Entries with small children are asked to assist them in keeping up with the parade by either having a vehicle they can ride on or in to help keep the parade at the proper speed.
• Show Bikes (motorcycles) are permitted however, they may not squeal tires, rev engines, or cause a disturbance that might endanger anyone in or along the parade route. Anyone breaking this rule will be subject to arrest and at the very least, asked to leave the parade immediately. All motorcyclists MUST wear helmets.
• Be mindful of children and animals at all times! If you have people, especially children, riding on your entry, please remind them to keep their feet and legs from dangling off the sides, for safety reasons.
• Animal Entries (Horses, Dogs, etc.) - Be prepared to clean up after your animal before, during, and after the parade. Remember, ALL dogs must be on a leash. Complete control must be maintained at all times.
END OF THE PARADE
• The parade will end at Gallatin High School parking lot.
• AS YOU ARE PULLING INTO GHS, DO NOT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET—STOPPING HOLDS UP THE PARADE PROGRESS! Pull all the way into the parking lot, as far as you can, to leave room for more entries to pull in.
• Do not remove decorations, trash, etc. from your entry in the parking lot unless you plan to remove all debris. Nothing can be left behind including animal waste, paper, decorations, etc.
• Entries wishing to leave the parking lot may do so by pulling through the parking lot and exiting onto Hancock Street or Green Wave Drive.
PLEASE NOTE: All entries must be received by November 22, 2024. Any entry received and approved after this date will incur a $5 increase on their entry fee and must be approved by the parade committee. Late entries are NOT guaranteed a spot in the parade. Entries must observe all applicable rules and regulations or be barred from the parade. The Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to remove from the parade, either prior to assembly, at assembly, or at any time during the parade, any entrant not conforming to the rules and regulations or any entrant refusing to follow instructions of police or parade officials.
WEATHER: In case of severe freezing temperatures or snow/ice, the parade may be canceled. The decision will be posted on our Gallatin Chamber website: www.gallatintn.org and on our social media outlets @gallatinchamber. An email will also be sent to those participants who have provided an accurate email address on their parade application.
RELEASE AND AGREEMENT - MUST BE AGREED UPON TO PARTICIPATE!!!
I/We give the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce the absolute rights and permission to copyright and/or publish or use any photographic or video images of this parade entry, in which may be included in whole or in part, or composite or distorted in character and form, in conjunction with my own or fictitious name, or reproductions thereof in color or otherwise, for art, advertising, trade or any other lawful purpose whatever. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect and/or approve the finished product or the advertising copy that may be used in connection therewith, or with use to which it may be applied.
I agree, for all participants in my/our parade entry, and hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless, the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce, its planning committee, sponsors, volunteers, the City of Gallatin and its entities from all liability, claims, damages, demands, charges, obligations, recoveries, liabilities, loss, deficiencies, rights or action or causes of action, of any kind, character or description, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, known, unknown or otherwise (including, without limitation, any and all penalties, interest, attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses relating to any and all actions, suits, proceedings, demands, assessments and judgments), which pertain to arise out of, result from or related to this Parade Entry’s participation in the 2024 Gallatin Christmas Parade.
I/we agree to have a representative present at the mandatory participants meeting on either Tuesday, December 3rd at 5:00 PM, Thursday, December 5th at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM at the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce, The Station, 117 W Main Street, in Gallatin. NOTE: NEW MEETING LOCATION
Reminder: If you did not attend one of these meetings, you will not be allowed to participate in the parade.and if I/We do not have a representative present, I/we will not be allowed to participate in the parade and our entry fee will be forfeited. I/we have read the above rules outlined in section 2 and agree to the terms of this agreement. By placing my name on the line below, I/We agree to all the rules and guidelines set forth above.