The Prescott Downtown Partnership welcomes your participation in the parade and after-parade bonfire immediately following at Mile High Middle School field. Enjoy the bonfire, Christmas music, reindeer races for the kids, and display your float/entry while parked around the field. Judging will take place at the field following the parade.
All entries are eligible to win cash prizes. A panel of judges will be on the field at Mile High.
Application fee and commentary deadline is Monday, November 3, 2025. Once your entry is submitted, you will receive your staging information via email. This will be sent by Monday November 24, at the latest. Staging begins at 4pm day of.
BE SURE the number given to you at check-in is illuminated with a flashlight or other means and is visible near the front of your float. Every block will have announcers and will be talking about you and your entry. Make sure you get their attention. HAVE FUN, BE ANIMATED AND GET NOTICED!
AWARD CATEGORIES
1st Place Judge’s Choice - $500 Award
Judge’s Choice Runner Up - $350 Award
Friends & Family Spirit Award - $200 Award
Spirit of Service, Non-profit - $200 Award
Spirit of Business (Corporate) - $200 Award
Spirit of Business (Small Business) - $200 Award
Holiday Youth Spirit Award - $200 Award
GENERAL RULES
In order to maintain the quality of the parade and to ensure the safety of the participants and spectators, please follow these rules:
- NO Santa’s allowed with your entry - SANTA will be provided by our title sponsor APS!
- Cover your entry with lights!
- For safety reasons, throwing candy or giveaway items from your float or vehicle is not permitted. Walkers handing out candy is also prohibited.
- Use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs is strictly prohibited.
- Unauthorized solicitation of any kind is not permitted.
- Due to insurance liability, horses are not allowed in the parade.
- Display and illuminate the assigned number given at check-in. BE SURE to display the number to the announcer’s stations on each block. ALL announcer’s stations are on the right side of the street, except the 100 block N. Montezuma. This is the only way they can identify your group. Engage the announcer stations for more attention! Be animated! They will be reading your Commentary.
- After-parade festivities and judging at Mile High Middle School immediately following parade.
- No entries deemed controversial. The Holiday Light Parade Committee makes the decision on the determination of “controversial,” which is final.
- No “politically” themed floats carrying a political message.
- Only invited elected officials will be allowed to participate in the parade.
- This is a family oriented parade and entries must reflect that.
(!) Failure to comply with these rules will result in forfeiting parade entry.
Walking / Costumed Entries
- All costumed groups should have some type of lighting. Hand-held accessories, headpieces, instruments, etc. should be outlined or accented with lights. Glow sticks, solar powered or battery-operated pins, LEDs or flashlights are acceptable. Marching bands are exempt from this rule.
- Only U.L. approved wiring, lights and batteries may be used.
- For safety reasons, only lights powered by dry cell batteries may be used for individual costumes.
- Pets in the parade must be on a leash (clean up after your pets).
- Chaperone ratio minimum requirement: There must be at least 1 adult for every 20 children. Chaperones are required to dress in the unit’s uniform or costume.
Children 8 years or older will be allowed to march in the parade.
- In order to keep the parade moving smoothly, entries will not be permitted to stop or perform reverse marches on the parade route. Failure, by any participant or parents of participants, to obey any police officer or parade official will be cause for removal of entry from the parade.
(!) Violators of any of the rules will not be accepted in future Holiday Light Parades.
Float Guidelines
- Your float entry should include a minimum of 60% of the visible area in lights (suggest 2” apart).
- Play holiday music throughout the parade.
- Float riders shall be illuminated by a flood or spot type light to ensure visibility.
- Maximum height allowed for any entry is 13.5’ feet and maximum 8’ feet width. Anything higher cannot safely navigate the streets. Oversized vehicles to obtain permits from the Prescott City Hall, Traffic Engineering Department.
- Use flame retardant materials for float.
- Windshields of vehicles must maintain reasonable visibility.
- Ensure wiring is properly secured to prevent mechanical damage and injury to float riders and parade spectators.
- Connections must be made with U.L. approved electrical boxes and devices.
- Portable generators or compressors used on the float must be securely mounted. A minimum of 12” must separate any part of the generator/compressor from combustible materials.
- All floats will be subject to inspection by Parade Officials who may, at their discretion, enlist assistance from other agencies and have the right to remove a float from the parade.
- Generators and compressors must be equipped with firmly attached exhaust systems that terminate either into a common exhaust serving the vehicle or in the same manner as vehicle exhaust. Vehicles with excess exhaust may be removed from the parade.
- TEST LIGHTS & MUSIC BEFORE COMING TO THE STAGING AREA, THEN AGAIN WHEN YOU ARRIVE.
- If you are having a problem or delay, PLEASE NOTIFY your staging volunteer immediately. They will adjust your placement in the parade lineup, and communicate your new position with the announcers and Judges.
(!) END OF PARADE - DO NOT DISASSEMBLE FLOATS ON THE FIELD. You must wait to move your float to the parking lot before disassembling.