FESTIVAL
PARADECharlestown Founders Day Celebration
FESTIVAL
PARADE
OFFICIAL FESTIVAL PARADE RULES
1. Parade entry registration shall only be accepted in writing, via either a completed Official 2007 Festival Parade Entry Registration Form or via a completed Festival Parade On-Line Entry Registration submission. Entry deadline is 5pm, Monday, June 25th, 2007.
2. A Parade Marshal will be on duty in each staging area as well as at various locations along the parade route to insure the smooth and orderly progression of the set up and of the parade itself. Marshals will have the authority to remove any unit (entry) causing a delay, violating official festival parade rules, or failing to cooperate.
3. Parade line-up and staging will begin at 9:00 am, Saturday, June 30th, 2007, in the south parking lot of the Charlestown High School, located near the intersection of Park and Monroe Streets, in Charlestown (click here for a street map). All entries (except floats competing in the parade float contest) must be in position and ready by 10:00am.
4. All units (entries) must check-in upon arrival with a Parade Marshal and be directed to their assigned staging area. All units (entries) must keep a representative with the entry at all times within the assigned staging area.
5. Participants must provide current and accurate publicity (media) information concerning their unit, for the parade narrator, with their registration.
6. Parade will promptly begin at 10:30 am, Saturday, June 30th, 2007, from the staging area described in #3 above.
7. The use prior to and/or possession during the parade of any alcoholic beverage, by any unit/entry member, is strictly forbidden.
8. Under no circumstances shall any participant, unit or entry move to a different position within the parade line-up, before or during the parade, except under the direction of a Parade Marshal. Riding participants will not be permitted to jump off and back on units/entries while the parade is in progress.
9. Proper unit spacing and parade pace is critical. Parade speed will maintain approximately four (4) feet per second. Voluntary stopping for drill formation, reverse marching by bands or drill teams cannot exceed 45 seconds.
10. Participants riding in vehicles or trailers must provide their own vehicles and drivers. Insurance and liability are the sole responsibility of participants.
11. Support vehicles for marching units will not be allowed in the parade.
12. Parade participants are strictly prohibited from participating in any form of political campaigning in conjunction with the Founder's Day Celebration Festival Parade, including but not limited to the display of any political campaign signs, buttons, t-shirts and literature.
13. Parade participants are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous manner.
14. Candy may be SAFELY given or tossed (NEVER THROWN OVER-HANDED) to the parade spectators. Any participants caught throwing candy or objects in the intent to harm any person or group, will be asked to exit the parade and may disqualify their entry from the parade float contest, if applicable.
15. Parade entries not participating in the Float Contest will be judged and awarded trophies for: Best Overall Spirited Entry, Best Commercial Entry, Best Group or Organization Entry, Best Marching Entry, and Best Motorized Entry. CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF FLOAT CONTEST RULES.
16. Any unit whose sole purpose, as determined by the Parade Committee, is for advertising only, must meet these specific guidelines: (a) Participants must provide their own signage; (b) Signs must be in good taste, or they will be disallowed.
17. These rules are subject to change on short notice. Advance notice will be given appropriately. Failure to comply with the parade rules will result in unit member or entire unit (entry) removal from the parade (even if in progress) and/or future participation banning.
(CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THESE RULES)