Winston-Salem Holiday Parade Rules and Guidelines

 

The WS Ambassadors is a welcoming organization, with special focus on making minorities and marginalized folx feel welcome. There will be people of all different ages, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and ethnicities at our Parade. It is very important that you recognize this. Kindness and welcome are the order of the day.

 

The WS Holiday Parade is NOT just a Christmas parade.

 

-Line-up begins at 2:30pm and the parade will begin promptly at 5pm.(Please check your contact email for confirmation of YOUR assigned time.)^

 

+All registered parade entries must report to the parade assembly area (4th and Broad checkpoint) on Saturday, December 6 at your assigned time.

 

The contact person listed on your application should check-in.

 

(Your whole group does not have to be there at check in, just your contact person and your vehicle/entry.)

 

• All Entries must be checked-in no later than 4:00 p.m.

 

The Ambassadors reserve the right to cancel any entry not checked-in by 4:00 p.m (or your assigned time.)

 

+Refunds will not be issued due to late entry.

 

-Once checked-in, the Contact Person & Entry Vehicle must go to their line-up area and remain there until the parade begins.

 

+Vehicles are not permitted to leave from their line-up area unless specifically asked to do so by an Ambassadors team member or a police officer.

 

~The Ambassadors reserve the right to cancel any entry violating this rule, and no refunds will be issued.

 

•Parade entries must be registered prior to November 15.

 

-No day-of parade entries will be permitted, for any reason.-

 

+Entries must be present by time listed in your confirmation email to participate 

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*-NO EXCEPTIONS*

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+DO NOT have Santa or Mrs. Claus on your float as Santa will be on the last entry and is a special Sponsor privilege. If we see a Santa or Mrs. Claus, you must remove them or you will be asked to leave the parade route.

 

-All vehicles and floats must be decorated and lighted! Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Solstice, or winter season decor is acceptable.

 

+Soliciting of any kind is prohibited.

 

*Only parade participants are allowed in the staging area, INCLUDING vehicles. If not appropriately labeled, cars will be towed.

 

-Please keep at least 20 Feet between entries while on the parade route -keep distance and do not stop, unless specifically directed by Parade volunteers/staff.

 

*Please listen/pay attention to parade volunteers/staff for direction. These folks will be in the blue Parade t-shirt.

 

+No alcoholic beverages allowed in or on parade route.

 

*The parade committee reserves the right to prohibit costumes, banners, flags, signs, logos or any other props or materials it deems inappropriate.

 

-Go-carts, skateboards, bicycle riders, and similar must wear helmets.

 

+Participants riding on floats, vehicles or any moving entry may not get off or on once the entry begins moving. Participants are either on or off the entry for the entire period of the parade.

 

*Only participants/groups who have been issued a number/sign may be in the parade.

 

-In the event of an emergency on the parade route, all participants are asked to move to the right side of the street to allow emergency services to pass in the left lane. See the Light, Pull to the Right!

 

=All entries with animals are responsible for cleaning up after their animals in the staging area, along the parade route and properly disposing of all animal waste.*

 

-Any and all drivers of any vehicles in the Parade route must have and be in possession of a currently valid drivers license.

 

DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS 

+Candy, samples, coupons may be HANDED to spectators, not thrown.+

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Throwing materials will result in immediate and future banning of your involvement.

 

-For the safety of all spectators, NO CANDY CAN BE THROWN, to ensure children do not run into the street. This is a city ordinance.

 

Violation will result in not being able to be in the parade in the future.

 

=No political signs, including candidates for office, or hate speech of any kind is/are allowed.

 

*No profanity or offensive behavior will be tolerated with the parade. This includes before the parade during the line-up/staging time period or during the actual parade or along the parade route.

 

-No drugs or weapons will be permitted in the parade assembly area or on the parade route.

 

*At the end of the Parade, DO NOT STOP; disperse as quickly as possible, please keep going to your vehicles/parking to free up the streets for the rest of the entrants, and for the start of the Tree Lighting, which follows the immediate conclusion of the Parade.

 

=THE PARADE WILL GO ON RAIN, SHINE, OR SNOW. It may be cold. Please be prepared for weather of any kind, the Winston-Salem Ambassadors and the City of Winston-Salem is not responsible for any medical occurrences or emergencies, including death or dismemberment.

 

LIGHTING AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

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Wire and lighting devices must have sufficient capability for the use intended on the float or vehicle. Wiring should be properly secured to the float.

 

At least one fire extinguisher should be placed within easy reach of the float driver. Extinguishers are required for floats using generators.

 

WALKING ENTRIES

+Walkers must be at least eight (8) years old to “walk” in the parade.

Children under the age of eight should ride on a float, in a stroller or inside a vehicle.

 

AND SUPERVISION 

+Entries with children need to have a minimum of two adults per every 10 children present at all times for safety reasons.

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*DISCLAIMER: The Parade Committee and the Winston-Salem Ambassadors reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to remove any and all individuals, groups, vehicles, floats, motorcycles, or participants of any kind from entering or continuing along the Parade route for any reason, including but not limited to, safety, perceived condition, failure to comply with Parade Staff instructions, any action(s) that may cause a delay in the Parade, and/or any violation of the rules and regulations set out in this document.

 

The People-

-This parade is organized by the WS Ambassadors, a nonprofit, and volunteers and in conjunction with the City of Winston-Salem, and the Winston-Salem Police Department. We could not do it without or amazing partners, and sponsors, and of course, you, the people of Winston-Salem!