2026 Butter & Egg - Parade Application

Parade Entry Application
2026 Butter & Egg Days Parade and Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2026
10 am - 5 pm, Parade at noon

Thank you for your interest in our Parade!

Theme: "America's Birthday - Petaluma Style"
Celebrating 250 years of independence, ingenuity, and small-town pride.

“Americas’ Birthday – Petaluma Style” celebrates the nation’s 250th Birthday by honoring Petaluma’s deep agricultural roots and hometown spirit. This year’s Butter & Egg Days Parade recognizes the farmers, families, immigrants, makers, entrepreneurs, and creatives whose hard work, imagination, and ingenuity reflect the enduring American Dream. This celebration also pays respect to the Indigenous peoples who first stewarded this land, the courage of our founders, and the dedication of the dairy and egg farming community that shaped our town. Rooted in community, innovation, and independence, the parade celebrates the small-town spirit that continues to make Petaluma a vibrant place to call home. Head to Downtown Petaluma and celebrate with our community on this day of fun, history, and local pride!

The theme gives nonprofits, businesses, organizations, and individuals lots of options for showing off their creativity in their designs. All parade entries will be judged on how well their entry portrays this year's theme.

The Butter & Egg Days festivities kick off on Saturday, April 11 with the Opening Ceremonies at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum (20 Fourth St), from Noon to 1pm. Mayor Kevin McDonnell will read a proclamation honoring the Grand Marshal and Good Egg. Come enjoy this display that shows the heart of our community.

One week later on Saturday, April 18, the Butter & Egg Days Parade steps off at noon and will march through the historic downtown. The parade will showcase over 100 units with approximately 3,000 participants and 200 volunteers. Clover Sonoma will return to lead the Clover Kids’ Parade, which precedes the main parade at 11:30am with a procession of preschoolers and primary grade youngsters and their families.

The parade is surrounded by a Festival that spreads over four city blocks from 10am-5pm offering a wide variety of food, crafts, beverage gardens, two large kid areas, live music, and more! This annual event aims to bring together the community for a day of fun and entertainment.

The following weekend, Downtown Petaluma continues the celebration with our Annual Antique Faire, on Sunday, April 26.

Happy Butter & Egg Days!!!

Read all guidelines BEFORE you complete this form.

It is required that you read and understand the Parade Rules & Guidelines "Americas’ Birthday – Petaluma Style" float/entry ideas! HERE.
Contact Information
Name of Organization *
Name*
Address*

Street Address Line 2
Phone Number*
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Day of Event Phone
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Email*
Alternate Contact
Alternate Contact Phone Number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
YesNo
Please upload a photo of your unit from last year (if you have one):

Browse Files

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Entry Information

The entry MUST adapt to the parade theme, "America's Birthday - Petaluma Style". Unless your entry is a marching band or dignitary.
Non-commercial / Nonprofit / Individual (no commercial businesses in this category) = $100Commercial Business = $575School Band = $20Parade Sponsor = INVOICED SEPARATELYKids Parade Non-commercial (6 yrs and under, shorter parade, no vehicles allowed) = FREEKids Parade Commercial (6 yrs and under, shorter parade, no vehicles allowed) = $75
Antique or Classic Car: CommercialAntique or Classic Car: Non-CommercialBand (non-school)Equestrian with Clean Up CrewFire EngineFloat: Commercial / SponsorFloat: Non-CommercialHigh School Marching BandJr High Marching BandElementary School BandMarching/Walking Group: Commercial / SponsorMarching/Walking Group: Non-CommercialMotorized Vehicle (bus, tractor, motorcycle, decorated orart car, work vehicle): CommercialMotorized Vehicle (bus, tractor, motorcycle, decorated orart car, work vehicle): Non-CommercialPerformance Groups (Dance, Martial Arts, Musical, etc)Self-Propelled Vehicle (bikes, push carts, scooters, non-motorized)Veterans GroupKids Parade - kids groups/schools 6 years old an under - no vehicles allowed (not judged)Other
Riding in own VehicleFloatEquestrianWe would like PDA to pair us with an Antique CarOther
Color GuardHonor Guard
flatbed float (built on a oversized truck or trailer chassis)towed float (pulled by a separate truck or tractor)Regular sized Pick Up Truck with float decor on flatbedpush float (manually propelled)Other
Describe how your entry will look to spectators: Include details on what type of vehicle, how many horses, the music, decorations, how many people walking, costumes, etc *

0/220
Describe how your entry will fit the parade theme*
Marching bands and VIPS may list n/a. All others: how will your entry fit our theme in appearance? How will you or car be dressed or decorated in our theme?
YesNo
Animal / Equestrian Insurance Document

Browse Files
Required for any Entry where an animal will be included. Cancelof
Length of your TOTAL Vehicle Entry (in feet) - vehicle lengths in feet required for your staging area- include float and trailer length if applicable (put N/A if walking)*
you are only allowed 1 vehicle per entry (vehicle pulling trailer ok). Marchers/Walkers put N/A
Number of people in entry (cannot exceed 50)*
YesNoNot sure yetOther
If yes for music or sound, please describe what will be playing & how it will be played (car speakers, amplifier, band, siren, etc)
Are you passing anything out? Describe below. PLEASE NOTE: Only sponsors are allowed to pass items out. Items must be pre-approved and eco-friendly or sustainable.
Items MUST be approved by committee
Please supply your parade script (25-50 words) to be read by Parade Announcers out loud: (please use "they, them, their, he/she" instead of "we, our, us, I" since this is how the announcers will be reading the script)*

MUST BE LESS THAN 50 WORDS0/50
Additional Comments, Requests, or Special Needs
placed with or near another entry, or not near another entry, for example
YesNoMaybe
Parade Entry Fees
WE WILL SEND YOU AN ELECTRONIC INVOICE ONCE WE GET YOUR APPLICATION
Total Paid
Parade Fee Structure

Commercial

Early Bird Fee (until March 3) - $375

Regular Fee (March 4-10) - $575

Late Fee (March 11-17) - $675

Non-Commercial

Early Bird Fee (until March 3) - $85

Regular Fee (March 4-10) - $100

Late Fee (March 11-17) - $150

School Band

Early Bird Fee (until March 3) - FREE

Regular Fee (March 4-10) - $20

Late Fee (March 11-17) - $40

Clover Sonoma Kids Parade - Commercial

Early Bird Fee (until March 3) - $75

Regular Fee (March 4-10) - $75

Late Fee (March 11-17) - $100

Clover Sonoma Kids Parade - Non-Commercial

FREE!!

WE WILL SEND YOU AN ELECTRONIC INVOICE ONCE WE GET YOUR APPLICATION
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I/we hereby understand and agree to accept the risk of bodily injury and/or property damage which I/we may incur or cause a third party to incur as a result of my/our participation in the Butter & Egg Days Parade and Festival. With this understanding, I/we further agree to indemnify, defend and save harmless the Petaluma Downtown Association, Inc, City of Petaluma, its Boards, its Commissions and their respective officers, agents, contractors, and employees from and against any and all claims, losses, injuries, suits, and judgments arising from, or in connection with me/my successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators, and any other persons or entity's who/which may have a claim based on my/our personal injuries and/or property damage. I/we further understand and agree that this save harmless and indemnification shall apply to and all facilities that the Petaluma Downtown Association, Inc, City of Petaluma may own and/or control. I/We understand that segments of the media will be present at the parade and I/We grant an unconditional release for all rights of publications, press, radio, and television present and future, along with all video and photographic rights by virtue of their appearance. Furthermore, I/we have read and agree to abide by the Butter & Egg Days Parade and Festival guidelines and rules, as shown in the pages provided and those to be presented with the participant's information package if my unit is accepted.*

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Questions?

Petaluma Downtown Association

210 Lakeville Street, Petaluma CA 94952

707-762-9348 - Sarah@petalumadowntown.com

Having issues with this form? Download a printable version HERE
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Contact Information

Entry Information

Parade Entry Fees