Parade Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026

LINE UP STARTS @ 8:00 a.m.

PARADE STARTS @ 9:30a.m.

RAIN OR SHINE!

Pensacola Navy Days is an opportunity for Pensacola and Northwest Florida to publicly say thank you to the brave men and women who sacrifice so much to keep us safe and free. Pensacola Navy Days is a Florida Not For Profit Corporation whose board includes volunteers who have brought expertise to the planning and execution of Pensacola Navy Days, and it’s events.

The Mission for Pensacola Navy Days - “Pensacola Navy Days will strive to foster a mutually positive and lasting relationship between the local and military communities, celebrate and publicize the rich military heritage of the Greater Pensacola Area, and highlight Pensacola as the premier military-friendly community in the Southeastern United States for veterans and service members alike.”

Your participation in Pensacola Navy Days is greatly appreciated. The Board of Directors and all Pensacola Navy Days volunteers including Pensacola Mardi Gras Krewes all hope that this second Pensacola Navy Days Parade and Fun Fest becomes an annual event. 

Taking place on Saturday, May 9, the parade honors active duty service members and veterans by partnering them with local Mardi Gras Krewes and organizations. Each Krewe will walk the parade route and proudly host a military unit on their float, creating a one-of-a-kind moment of appreciation, connection, and celebration.

The parade will take place after the Navy Days 4K Run/Walk, which kicks off the morning at 8:00 AM. The parade route will end at Fun Fest at Plaza DeLuna, where attendees can enjoy food trucks, kids' activities, military vehicle displays, live entertainment, and more. We encourage all military units to stick around and enjoy the festivities after the parade!

This is a family-friendly event designed to reflect the pride, spirit, and patriotism of our Gulf Coast community. This unique partnership between the Mardi Gras community and our military commuity represents the spirit of Pensacola. By bringing together local Krewes, organizations, and service members, the parade celebrates the pride our community takes in supporting those who serve. Participants are encouraged to approach the event with a spirit of gratitude, patriotism, and respect.

The Pensacola Navy Days Parade is a community celebration honoring active duty military members and veterans. All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and patriotic manner that reflects the purpose of the event.

1. Parade Purpose
This parade is designed to celebrate and honor military service while highlighting the strong connection between Pensacola's military community and the local organizations that support them. 

2. Krewe & Military Unit Pairings
Pensacola Navy Days Parade organizers will pair participating Mardi Gras Krewes and organizations with military units.
Pairings are subject to change on the day of the event based on operational needs, attendance, or other circumstances. 

3. Parade Format
Krewes and organizations will walk alongside their floats, while the assigned military unit will ride on the float.

4. Decorations & Theme
Participants are encouraged to decorate floats in red, white, and blue or with patriotic and military appreciation themes. Decorations and Krewe attire should be family-friendly and respectful.

Krewe members walking in the parade should wear respectful, coordinated attire that identifies their Krewe while honoring the spirit of the event. Costumes, outfits, and props should reflect patriotism and appreciation for military service.q

The purpose of this parade is to highlight and honor the participating military units, and Krewe presentations should be designed with that focus in mind. Participants should avoid costumes or displays that draw attention away from the military guests riding on the float.

Please note that there are certain military units that cannot be associated with things like alcohol imagery, foul language, etc. The Parade Organizers will work with all organizations and military units to determine a placement that works for everyone. Your patience and flexibily is greatly appreciated.

5. Weapons Prohibited
Weapons of any kind are not permitted in the parade. This includes real weapons, replica weapons, toy weapons, or plastic weapon props. This policy will be strictly enforced. Any participant found in possession of a prohibited item may be asked to remove the item(s) immediately or leave the parade staging area and event footprint.

6. Alcohol Prohibited
Alcohol is strictly prohibited for all parade participants before and during the parade. This includes no alcohol permitted on floats at any time, whether opened or unopened. Alcohol may not be carried, consumed, or stored by participants during parade staging, the parade itself, or while on the parade route.

7. No Throws
Throws of any kind are not permitted.
This includes but is not limited to beads, candy, toys, or promotional items.

8. Conduct
All participants must behave respectfully toward military personnel, fellow participants, spectators, and event staff. Disruptive or inappropriate behavior may result in removal from the parade and prohibition from partcipation in future Pensacola Navy Days parades.

9. Safety
Participants must follow all instructions from parade staff, law enforcement, and event volunteers. Floats must operate safely and maintain a steady pace along the route.

10. Parade Lineup & Timing
All participants must arrive at the designated staging area at the assigned time. Specific lineup instructions and timing details will be provided prior to the event.

11. Final Authority
Pensacola Navy Days Parade organizers reserve the right to make adjustments or decisions necessary for the safety, success, and respectful tone of the event.

This information requested below is required so that we can insure proper communication, identification and placement for parade day.

Information about the parade and instructions for parade day will be forthcoming. We need to know who the best contact person is for your group in order to send instructions through emails, text, or calls from the Pensacola Navy Days Parade Committee. This point of contact should be the person that can best communicate with the remainder of the group and the Parade Committee.

The Pensacola Navy Days Parade Committee is excited to provide the opportunity for Krewes and Organizations to request a specific military unit to ride on their float and be specially honored by this specific Krewe or Organization.

Please note: The Parade Committee will review all applications and pairing requests. While we will do our best to accommodate everyone’s preferences, early submission greatly increases the likelihood of receiving your desired pairing and placement. All details are subject to change on parade day due to circumstances that may arise during Line-Up or other logistics. We encourage all participants to stay in close communication with their organization leader and the Parade Committee for the most up-to-date information.

The undersigned, on behalf of the below Organization and its members, participants, agents, volunteers, and representatives agrees to indemnify, defend, release, and hold harmless Pensacola Navy Days, Pensacola Mardi Gras Inc., Pensacola Mardi Gras Foundation Inc, the City of Pensacola, Escambia County, and all their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, volunteers, insurers, successors, and assigns from any and all claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, arising out of or related to:

• Participation in the Parade and related activities such as staging during the Parade Line-Up
• Preparation for or departure from the Parade
• The acts or omissions of the Organization or its participants
• The operation or presence of any vehicle, float, trailer, or other such related equipment

The Organization acknowledges that participation in the parade involves inherent risks, including but not limited to personal injury, property damage, and interaction with moving vehicles and large crowds. The Organization voluntarily assumes all such risks on behalf of itself and its participants. 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida. 

By signing below, the undersigned certifies that they are authorized to bind the Organization, and that this Agreement is executed knowingly and voluntarily. 

NOTE: Late Applications are subject to a late fee at the discretion of the Pensacola Navy Days Parade Committee. A charge of $125.00 may be charged in addition to the application fee, if any.

Each parade entry that includes a motorized vehicle must designate a driver. The designated driver must comply with all event rules and safety requirements.

The driver is required to complete a separate Driver Acknowledgment and Hold Harmless Agreement prior to participation in the parade. Instructions and a link to the required form will be provided upon submission of this application.

Failure of the driver to complete the required acknowledgment and hold harmless form may result in removal of the vehicle from the parade lineup.

All vehicles participating in the parade, including those pulling or supporting floats, must have valid registration and active insurance coverage that remains in effect through the date of the Parade. 

The Pensacola Navy Days Parade Committee must have a legible copy of the driver's license and insurance information for each vehicle driver prior to the parade.

Parade Organizers reserve the right to verify insurance coverage, request additional documentation, or ask follow-up verification questions at any time.

Any driver or vehicle that cannot provide valid documentation will not be permitted to operate in the parade.

State law requires each operator of a towing vehicle to be responsible for seeing that their trailer is pretty secured and safety chains are provided (Florida Statutes, 316.530).

NOTE: You can provide the insurance and photo of the driver's license after submitting your application by emailing Hannah Zimmern at HannahZ@PensacolaMardiGras.com. All information must be received by 5:00pm on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Upon submitting this application, the Parade Committee for Pensacola Navy Days will review your information and will reach out with any questions or next steps. Please note that your application is not considered approved until you receive formal written approval from the Navy Days Parade Committee.

If you have any questions regarding the Pensacola Navy Days Parade on Saturday, May 9, 2026, please reach out to Hannah Zimmern at HannahZ@PensacolaMardiGras.com.

If you have questions or need assistance with the Pensacola Navy Days Fun Fest, please reach out to Jennifer Harrison at Jennifer@GCPromo.com.

Thank you for your participation in Pensacola Navy Days!