Christmas Parade Registration

Thursday, December 3, 2026 | Downtown Cleveland, Mississippi

It's the most wonderful time of the year! 🎄

The City of Cleveland and the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce invite you to join us for the 2026 Cleveland Christmas Parade!

One of Cleveland's favorite holiday traditions, the Christmas Parade brings our community together for an evening filled with festive floats, marching bands, balloons, school groups, local businesses, civic organizations, and plenty of Christmas cheer!

✨ NO THEME THIS YEAR! Get creative, have fun, and show us your best Christmas creations!

🎁 Registration Information

Chamber Members: $10 per entry

Non-Chamber Members: $20 per entry

Registration Deadline: Friday, November 27

Parade Date: Thursday, December 3

Refund Policy: All registration fees are nonrefundable, including in the event of inclement weather or parade cancellation.

🎅 Parade Lineup & Instructions

Parade lineup will take place on the Delta State University Quadrangle.

To help with traffic flow and participant safety, we will have a staggered arrival beginning at 4:00 PM. Each entry will be assigned a specific arrival time and lineup position.

The primary contact listed on your registration will receive an email from the parade coordinator on December 1 with all the information needed for parade day, including arrival instructions, lineup assignments, and additional details.

📋 Parade Guidelines

All participants must review and agree to the attached Parade Guidelines before submitting their application.

We can't wait to see everyone's creativity and celebrate another wonderful Christmas season in Cleveland!

Judging will be based on creativity & craftsmanship! Winners will be announced at the end of the parade on Chamber/Cleveland Main Street social media.

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.