 Festival
of States Day
Parade
High School Bands interested in
participating in the Festival of States Day Parade, please log onto
www.USAFEST.org
for more information, or call Dr. Michael Mazzarisi, Performing Arts
Consultants, 1.800.872.3378.
Parade date is Saturday, April 12, 10:00
a.m., followed by Familyfest in North
Straub park, downtown St. Petersburg.
Grand Marshall: Tampa Bay Ray's Raymond
Directions: Begins on Central
Avenue and 5th Street east to Bayshore Drive then north to North
Shore Park.
Day Parade Rules
GENERAL INFORMATION (Application to all types of entries) 1. A parade by its nature is an entertainment medium; thus, the contribution of each to this concept is critical. Entries are approved based on “show value” to the overall parade and its theme. Artistic beauty, use of color, music, costuming, animation, special effects, use of lights, originality, rider personal, and visual appeal all come into play in determining the acceptability of the entry.
2. Because of this “show value” concept and the objective of providing entertainment, our parades are not a platform for political campaigns, social issues, or targeted special groups and such entries will not approved.
3. To maximize a parade’s objective of providing entertainment, and to encourage a good mixture of entries, the following is designed to help sponsors determine their entry:
Commercial organization, festival, fair, and governmental entries –may use floats of professional construction/appearance: large, theme helium balloons; or present entry that is itself unique and meets parade’s purpose and objective (see no 1. above).
Civic groups, social clubs, and educational entities – may use floats of professional construction/appearance; large, theme helium balloons, professionally constructed/appearing push floats; provide performing walkers groups; or have a special and unique entry that meets parade’s purpose and objective (see no. 1 above).
4. Definition: A professionally constructed float is one built by a professional float company. A professional appearance float is one not built by a professional float company but is a float that contains all the necessary elements, i.e. self contained sound system, etc. and in all respects looks like a professionally built float. Both type constructions will employ a theme and fully decorated tow unit for pulling the float or be self-propelled.
5. Advertisement: For identification purposes all entries should include as an integral part of their entry the name of the business, organization, etc. the entry represents. Beyond the entry name, no other advertisement/promotion/information language may be used on or as part of the entry itself, except with approval handouts having intrinsic value.
6. Signs: Size of signs associated with an entry is limited to meet the parade’s objective as well as to not conflict with or take away form the overall entry itself. Following guidelines are provided:
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Floats: One sign on each side of the float, identifying entry’s name. Sign should be no larger that 5’ x 2’. Sign appearing on float means no sign allowed on tow unit, and vice-versa.
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Vehicles: One sign on each side of vehicle, showing entry name. Sign should be no larger than 18”x 12”.
7. Vehicles: Motorized vehicle, including but not limited to regular car, vans, station wagons, trucks, boats, racing cars, etc., and having no entertainment value will not be approved as an entry (stand-alone or part of other entries) in the parades. Exception to this rile will be those vehicles used by the Parade committee to transport selected persons and invited guests.
8. Materials or favors are encouraged for handing out and they must have an intrinsic value and be approved by the Parade Selection Committee prior to entry acceptance. Examples might be pencils, beads, balloons, balls, etc. These handouts should be distributed directly to parade spectators by person walking in you entry. For safety reasons to both spectators and parade participants the handouts should not be thrown from floats, vehicles, or animals because of possible injury to person in street or on sidewalk. Firearms, unless plugged, or other explosive material is prohibited.
9. Royalty that may me included in the parades are:
a.) The Festival of States own royalty
b.) Royalty invited by the Festival of States organization
c.) Royalty representing other festivals and who are riding on floats
10. Honorary – titled persons may be included in the parades if:
a.) They are invited by the Parade Selection Committee
b.) They are part of a riding on a float
11. Honor Guard/Color Guards: There will be only one official guard and is will be designates by Parade Selection Committee. Stand-alone guards will not be approved for entry; however, guards which are in integral part of a total entry will be encouraged to participate in parades.
12. It is agreed by all parties that the parade entry owners/sponsors accept full responsibility for protection against personal injury and property damage in the operation and presentation of said entry, and that the Festival of States shall indemnified and held harmless by the same.
13. All Applications must be approved by the Parade Selection Committee. Any and all sponsors (business, organizations, media, etc.) must be listed on the float application. On acceptance, a signed copy of your application form will be mailed to you.
14. On Arrival at the parade formation area, entries not conforming with description on the application may be prohibited from participating in the parade.
FLOAT ENTRIES – (In addition to the GENERAL INFORMATION Section above)
A major part of any parade is the presence of floats. The Festival of States recognizes two types of floats…the large, mechanized float and the smaller, non-mechanized push float. Mechanization used in this sense refers to the method used to propel the float along the parade route. The mechanized float will be driven by some type of self-contained engine or will employ a tow unit. The non-mechanized push float will be “driven” by a person(s) walking behind and pushing the unit.
We recommend to all potential float sponsors that they procure a professionally built float, as that is the type of float that will most favorably represent their entity. The professional firms are familiar with the highway laws, which are important if the float is transported between sites.
Tow units: A tow unit may be a cut-down auto (cut at window level and top removed) and fully decorated to complement the float, or it may be some type of unique vehicle. A pick-up truck or van of any type is not allowed, as it doesn’tkeep with parade objectives.
Tow units for all floats must be full powered and completely decorated in keeping with the theme of the float. The person(s) propelling that push floats must also be costumed in a manner that compliments the float itself.
Persons that are a part of a float entry and are walking along beside the float must be tumed to compliment the float’s decoration and theme.
Dispensing materials or favors – please review paragraph 7 in the General section above.
See General Section for information on advertisement and signs.
HORSE ENTRIES – (In addition to the General Information section above)
The horse, rider, and any walkers the may be in the entry must be costumed to a common theme.
Accompanying “pooper-scoopers” must be decorated in imaginative designs and Compliment the horse unit’s common theme
Motorized vehicle such as pick-up trucks, vans, etc. will not be approved as part of the entry.
Dispensing materials or favors – please review paragraph 7 in the General section above.
See in General Section for information on advertisement and signs.
WALKING ENTRIES – (In addition to the General Information Section above)
Walking units are limited to musical units, drill teams, or unique units determined to have entertainment quality and approved by the Parade Selection Committee. This category of entry does not apply to walkers who are part of another type entry.
A walking group must have a common theme and all members of that group who are walking in the parade must be costumed to compliment the entry’s overall theme.
Dispensing materials or favors – please review paragraph 7 in the General section above.
See in General Section for information on advertisement and signs.
Call the festival office at 727.321.9888 or email for an application.
Thank you for your interest in the
Festival of States. For additional information on our
upcoming events please call the festival office at 727-321-9888 or
email us at festivalofstates@ij.com.
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