1. Responsibility for Your Organization: Each organization is responsible for its entry and the conduct of its members and participants. The applicant is responsible for communicating these Rules and Regulations and all Event instructions to their organization.

2. Applications & Approval: All entries are subject to approval by Pensacola Mardi Gras (“PMG”). Submission of an application does not guarantee participation. All vehicles, floats, and trailers must be accurately disclosed, and significant changes after approval must be approved by PMG.

3. Vehicles & Drivers: A separate Vehicle & Driver Application is required for each motorized vehicle participating in the Event. All vehicles must be operable and have an approved driver with a valid driver’s license and required insurance valid through the Event date.

4. Float Requirements: Floats and trailers must be safely maintained and properly secured to the tow vehicle, including required safety chains. Entries may not exceed 13 feet in height, 10 feet in width, or 30 feet in length without prior PMG approval. Floats carrying participants must have secure railings at least 42 inches above the platform.

5. Fire & Safety: Each float must have at least one readily accessible 5-pound multipurpose ABC fire extinguisher. Cannons, pyrotechnics, open flames, smoke devices, confetti cannons, or other potentially hazardous equipment must be disclosed and approved by PMG before the Event.

6. Arrival & Placement: Entries must arrive during the designated staging period and follow all arrival instructions provided by PMG. PMG determines the placement of all entries. Placement requests may be considered but are not guaranteed.

7. Riders & Vehicle Movement: Participants may not ride on floats or trailers while entries are being moved into their assigned Event positions. Once staged, vehicles, floats, and trailers must remain stationary unless movement is specifically authorized by PMG or public safety personnel.

8. Drivers: The approved driver must remain onsite, completely sober, available, and capable of moving the vehicle at all times throughout the Event if directed to do so by PMG or public safety personnel. Drivers must keep their cell phones on them at all times to be reached by the PMG Team in the event of an emergency.

9. Throws: Throws are not permitted. Any and all giveaways must be appropriate for safe distribution in a crowded pedestrian environment. Hard, heavy, sharp, or otherwise dangerous items may not be thrown. Candy, loose glitter, and confetti are prohibited.

10. Music & Blessing of the Floats: Amplified sound must be kept at a reasonable level. All music and amplified sound must be turned off when directed by PMG before and during the Blessing of the Floats and must remain off until PMG authorizes music to resume. This preserves the specific operational requirement from the existing Kick-Off rules. 

11. Participant Conduct: Kick-Off is a family-friendly Event. Decorations, music, activities, and participant conduct must be appropriate for audiences of all ages. Public intoxication, unsafe behavior, and conduct that interferes with Event operations are prohibited.

12. Golf Carts & Unauthorized Vehicles: Golf carts and other motorized vehicles are not permitted in the Event or staging area unless specifically approved by PMG. Approved vehicles must remain stationary in their assigned locations unless authorized to move. Any float, vehicle, or trailor that moves, leaves early or late, or otherwise changes their position once set in the designated place may be prohibited from participating in Kick-Off in future years, and is subject to removal from the event.

13. Follow Event Officials: All participants and drivers must follow instructions from PMG Leadership, Event Marshals, law enforcement, fire/rescue personnel, and other authorized Event officials at all times.

14. Departure: Entries must remain in their assigned locations until released by PMG or law enforcement and must follow all departure instructions. Organizations are responsible for removing their property and materials from their assigned areas. Any float, vehicle, or trailor that moves, leaves early or late, or otherwise changes their position once set in the designated place may be prohibited from participating in Kick-Off in future years, and is subject to removal from the event.

15. PMG Authority: PMG reserves the right to deny or remove any entry or participant that violates these Rules and Regulations, creates a safety concern, fails to follow Event instructions, or interferes with the safe and orderly operation of the Event.

In consideration for being permitted to participate in the Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick-Off Celebration (“Event”), the undersigned, on behalf of the organization identified below (“Organization”), agrees as follows:

The Organization accepts responsibility for the conduct and participation of its members, riders, walkers, drivers, volunteers, representatives, and other individuals participating in the Event on its behalf. The Organization agrees to comply with all applicable Event Rules and Regulations and all instructions given by Pensacola Mardi Gras, law enforcement, event marshals, and other authorized event officials.

The Organization agrees to indemnify, defend, release, and hold harmless Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc., Pensacola Mardi Gras Foundation, Inc., the City of Pensacola, Escambia County, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, representatives, 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:

• the Organization’s participation in the Event, including arrival, staging, line-up, procession, event activities, and departure;
• the preparation for or transportation to or from the Event;
• the acts or omissions of the Organization or any of its participants; and
• the ownership, operation, use, or presence of any vehicle, float, trailer, equipment, or other property associated with the Organization’s participation.

The Organization acknowledges that participation in the Event involves inherent risks, including personal injury, death, property damage, interaction with moving vehicles and floats, and interaction with large crowds. The Organization knowingly and voluntarily assumes the risks associated with its participation in the Event.

The Organization understands that failure to comply with the Event Rules and Regulations or instructions of authorized event officials may result in removal from the Event.

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida.

By signing below, the undersigned certifies that they are authorized to sign on behalf of the Organization, have read and understand this Agreement, and agree to its terms on behalf of the Organization.

*If your organization is pulling a float / trailer you must fill out and complete the Vehicle Application and provide PMGI with all required documents.

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

***All Motorized Vehicles MUST meet insurance requirements per Rules and Regulations.