Christmas Parade Registration

Bands, floats, balloons, school groups, civic organizations, sports teams, and local businesses!

Let's celebrate the holiday season with the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce at the annual Christmas Parade presented by Sparklight!

 

• $10 Registration Fee
• Deadline: Wednesday, November 27th
• No refunds if cancellation or rain

 
Upon formal registration, the primary contact will receive instructions from the parade coordinator approximately one week prior to the parade date. All participants must be on site by 4:00 pm at THE DESIGNATED STARTING POINT. Failure to arrive on time will result in a forfeit of participation. Adult supervision is required for participants with children involved. We have attached the parade guidelines to this applications. You must read, review, and agree with the guidelines.

Parade Policy

General Rules

• Performances by parade participants must meet the rules set by the City of Cleveland and conform to the standards of reasonable public taste. Performances are to be family friendly. Music with lewd and/or explicit lyrics is expressly prohibited.
• Political campaigning is not permitted.
• Application fees are non-refundable for accepted entries, each entry must pay the appropriate fee. The City of Cleveland reserves the right to accept or deny any entry. The City of Cleveland's decision regarding all entries is final.
• Under no circumstances will paint, spray chalk, or any other substance that will remain visible for more than 48 hours be applied to the street or any part of the right of way or public property.
• Parades shall have no more than 75 total participating entries, including floats, marching bands.
• All parade entries will be subject to inspection by the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department and Cleveland Police Department. If for any reason, an entry is found to be hazardous or unsafe, it must be modified to the satisfaction of the inspector or removed from the parade.
• Generators must be used in well ventilated areas and not inside vehicle passenger areas.
• Fire zone parking restrictions will be enforced.

Floats, Vehicles, and Participants

• All persons riding on floats or vehicles shall only do so in a safe and reasonable manner, taking into consideration the movement of the floats and vehicles.
• No participant may dismount from the float or leave a vehicle at any time prior to the conclusion of the parade route. A participant may not switch from riding the float to walking to riding the float again.
• Float capacity will not be exceeded.
• Participants will not have body parts, particularly legs and feet, extending past the side, front or rear of the float. This is an extreme safety hazard.
• Floats shall not be more than sixty (60) feet in length, and shall not be more than fifteen (15) feet in width, and not be more than thirteen (13) feet high, inclusive of animation, measured from the street level. No decorations and/or float construction material may protrude from the side of the float. If floats or vehicles exceed these limits, they will be removed from the parade without refund.
• All electrical devices must be properly grounded.
• Alcoholic beverages are forbidden on any float, in any vehicle, or on the person of any float participant. Participants consuming alcohol prior to or during the parade will be removed from the lineup.
• Drivers of any and all vehicles in the parade areas must possess a valid driver’s license, be at least 18 years old, and possess all liability vehicle insurance.
• Smoking tobacco, vaping, and drug use are prohibited for all floats, vehicles, and participants during the parade.
• No person operating a moving vehicle or other moving equipment shall be permitted to use a cellular device, including texting, while in the parade route.
• All drivers must have complete control of moving equipment at all times.
• All drivers must maintain a forward motion at all times. Drivers cannot slow down in order to speed up.
• If horses or animals are a part of your event, you will be responsible for cleaning up after them (a diaper is recommended).
• Performance stops may not last more than 90 seconds.
• Floats, vehicles, and participants are required to yield the right of way to all emergency vehicles.

Kings/Queens/Maids

• Eligible entries for Kings/Queens/Maids will include public/private, elementary/secondary, college institutions and/or recognized pageants will be considered for the parade at the discretion of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce. 
• Kings/Queens/Maids must be at least 5 years old. 
• Kings/Queens/Maids are required to furnish their own vehicle on parade day. 
• A minimum of 2 adults per vehicle (including driver), in order to ensure the safety of the King/Queen/Maid. 

Lineup

• All entries will be assigned a line-up number and receive further instructions about the parade upon approval of your application.
• Only vehicles with an approved and paid application will be allowed to enter the assembly area.

 

Traffic Control and Barricades

• Barricades must be set, moved, or removed by personnel authorized by the City of Cleveland only. 
• No person, other than authorized city officials, shall place any sign or device intended to regulate the movement of traffic. 
• No parking is allowed in front of barricades. 
• Signs or other material are prohibited from being affixed to any barricade by anyone other than city officials. 
• Only police and other personnel authorized by the City of Cleveland are permitted to direct traffic. 

Promotional Items/Candy Handouts

• All candy thrown MUST BE BAGGED in small plastic baggies. 
• Please throw the candy bags into the crowds and DO NOT DROP IT on the street. 
• If your group is seen throwing loose candy or other loose items and causing disruptions in the parade route, the Cleveland Police Department will remove you from the parade.