2024 HORRIBLES PARADE GUIDELINES FOR ENTRANTS
Registration to participate in the Farms/Prides Fourth of July Horribles Parade must be received by the Farms/Prides 4th of July Committee by July 2, 2024.
CATEGORIES
Entrants will register to represent one of the following categories: Horribles/Protest, Patriotic/Theme, Business/Sponsor, Special Vehicle, Performer/Reenactor, Community Group, Other. The Committee reserves the right to reclassify entrants to create special categories and to recognize unique entrants the day of the parade.
Category Descriptions
Horribles: These floats are the spirit of the Parade. They are defined as any entry creatively commenting on national, state, or local politics or current events.
Patriotic/Theme: Any entry based on a specific fictional or non-fictional subject, or current pop culture themes. This category includes subjects depicting the Spirit of Independence Day past, present and future.
Business: Local businesses are encouraged to enter floats that communicate the essence of their brands, products and/or services.
Special Vehicles: Old cars, emergency vehicles, decorated vehicles and bikes. Self-propelled, pushed or pulled “vehicles”. Entrants must be able to meet the pace of the parade and comply with safe operations guidelines.
Performer/Reenactor: Marching bands, musical groups, entertainers, historic reenactors, and street performers are welcome to strut their stuff.
Community Group: Teams, school groups, local organizations, military and veteran groups, others.
Kids/Bicycles: Local kids are a main attraction of the 4th of July celebration. Decorate a bike, stroller, wagon or the kid, and join the fun.
JUDGING CRITERIA The judges’ decision will be final!
The Committee will appoint a panel of judges to evaluate the entrants on the following nonexclusive list of criteria:
• Is the theme relevant to the events of the past year - either on a local, national, or global level?
• Is the theme of the float cohesive and clear?
• Are the signs creative, witty, and interesting?
• Are the costumes and decorations on the float funny and clever?
• Does it seem like the crowd liked the float? What was the crowd reaction to the float?
• How well does the float represent its category? (horribles, theme, children, etc.)
ELIGIBILITY Remember to be Clever not Crude!
Safe Operation: Entrants are responsible for constructing floats, displays and activities that do not put spectators and parade participants at risk of injury and will operate the float or activity in a safe and responsible manner. The entrants will be responsible for injuries and damage caused by their float or participants. The Committee may remove any entrant at any time if, in its opinion, the entrant poses a threat to other entrants or spectators.
For the safety of all, no candy or other handouts may be thrown or distributed directly from the floats. Only walkers walking alongside floats may distribute candy or handouts.
OPERATION OF A FLOAT OR PARTICIPATION IN THE PARADE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OR IMPAIRED BY DRUGS AND/OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WILL CAUSE IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION AND REMOVAL FROM THE PARADE.
Appropriate Content: ENTRANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THEIR FLOATS AND ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR FLOAT. The Parade is an event that is open to the public and is attended by families with children. The Committee will exercise the right to determine what content is appropriate or inappropriate for that audience, and accordingly allow or disallow themes and expressions of those themes from participation.
RACIALLY OFFENSIVE THEMES, DISPARAGEMENT OF ANY RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITY OR ETHNIC GROUP WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OFFENSIVE SEXUAL CONTENT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. POLITICAL COMMENTARY AND SATIRE MUST STAY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF ACCEPTABLE PUBLIC DISPLAY. PEOPLE’S NAMES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON SIGNS.
THE COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT OR EJECT ANY FLOAT, SIGNAGE OR PARTICIPANT THAT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THESE RULES AT ANY TIME.
Committee Review Process: The Parade entrants MUST assemble at 7:15 AM the day of the Parade with the final float and all of the participants. Committee officials will assign floats and participants a place in the order of the parade. ANY FLOAT OR ENTRANT THAT DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY, IN THE OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE UNTIL THE FLOAT OR ACTIVITY IS BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE.
Entrants may schedule a review by the Committee prior to the morning of the parade to get a ruling on the eligibility of their float. To schedule a review or for more information, please contact: Raeann Downey at (978) 927-3891 or Don MacQuarrie at (978) 578-0258.