Milton Santa Claus Parade Rules and Regulations
1. To be accepted all applications must be completed in full and accompanied by the required payment (unless prior arrangements have been made).
2. There CANNOT be a Santa replica in or around any float as Santa will be represented on a float at the end of the parade.
3. Absolutely no “soliciting”, “handouts” or “giveaways” (except for candy) may be distributed along the parade route unless approved by the Milton Santa Claus Parade Committee prior to parade day.
4. If candy is to be given out it must be handed to the children along the route by walkers accompanying the float and CANNOT be thrown, at any time, from a float.
5. People participating on the floats and in the assembly area or the parade will not consume or give the impression of consuming alcoholic beverages.
6. No smoking will be allowed while participating in the parade.
7. A maximum speed of 10 k.p.h. will be maintained during the parade as well as in the assembly and disembarking area.
8. Demonstrations or performances are NOT to stop the forward motion of the parade.
9. Only ONE VEHICLE will be accepted per application.
10. Where a float will utilize a combustible fuel powered generator, participants MUST supply an appropriate fire extinguisher in close proximity to the generator and it must be readily visible.
11. To ensure safety of all involved in the parade, floats with passengers must be constructed with safety railings around the perimeter of where the passengers will be during the parade. The railing height shall be no less than 39” above the walking surface of the float or trailer. If there are passengers that are under the age of 18, then there must also be an additional rail 24” above the walking surface of the float or trailer. The railing may be constructed of wooden uprights and railings or a combination of wooden uprights and 3/8” rope railings. If there are questions regarding the application of this rule or the construction of the railing, please contact the Chief Marshal (miltonsantamarshal@gmail.com) at least two weeks prior to parade day.
12. Entries with trailers or vehicles over 5 tons must supply ADULT spotters at each axle group, on both sides of the entry. These spotters must be able to pull riders who have fallen off the entry from the path of moving wheels of the vehicle. The spotters cannot be performers and are strictly there for safety of the riders.
13. Maximum number of walkers, not including axle spotters, with a walking group is 25.
14. Entries that are inflated, must use proper ballast at the base of the float to maintain stability. At NO TIME are people to be used as ballast! The entry must demonstrate to the Chief Marshal that they are capable of maintaining control of their inflatable. Depending upon wind and weather conditions, the Chief Marshal may not allow an inflatable entry to leave the marshaling area if it is determined that the safety risk to the participants or the spectators is too high.
15. Due to the length of the parade it is strongly suggested that children under 10 years of age be seated on floats rather than walking the parade route.
16. ALL FLOATS must enter the assembly area from Tremaine Road and head east bound along Main St. West, forming up along the south side of the EASTBOUND lanes only, by entry number, starting at Scott Blvd and working toward Tremaine Road.
17. ALL BAND BUSES must enter the assembly area westbound on Main St. W. from Bronte St. and park in the marked north side parking lane between Scott Blvd. and Tremaine Road to unload band members and equipment. Buses are then to follow the bus route map to pick up bands at the GO Station parking lot.
18. All entries MUST be in place by 12:30 pm, and be ready to roll out starting at 1:00 pm sharp!
19. Drop-off vehicle parking will be available between 12 noon and 4:00pm on Westbound Main St., between Scott Blvd. and Tremaine Rd. Please park only in the area sign designated area. Any vehicles left behind after 4:00pm may be ticketed! There is limited parking available in Sherwood District Park at the corner of Tremaine and Main St. Additional parking may be made available and will be announced at the Mandatory Parade Orientation Meeting.
20. The closing date for entries to be received is Nov. 3 2024, unless the maximum number of 30 commercial or 60 total entries are received prior to that date, at which time entries will automatically close. The Parade Committee has the final decision on accepting any or all entries.
21. All entries received will be acknowledged. All accepted entries MUST have a representative at the Parade Orientation meeting to be held Nov. 5th, 2024 starting at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at Lions Hall, upstairs at Memorial Arena. In addition, during this meeting, entries will receive their assigned parade number as well as directions for arrival at the assembly area and dispersal at the end of the parade. Failure to have a representative at this meeting will result in your entry being pulled from the parade with no refund of entry fee. If there is a waiting list of entries one or more entries may be used to fill the vacant spots.
22. Entries MUST be decorated in the parade theme or an appropriate Christmas theme. Decorating of entries must not be designed for the sole purpose of advertising. Entries violating this rule will be removed from the Parade at the discretion of the Chief Marshal. Floats may have a sign or banner along the side to designate the organization or the sponsor if they so choose.
23. Floats will obey the instructions of the Chief Marshal and parade marshals assigned to their section of the parade.
24. Dogs will be allowed on floats or in vehicles pulling floats, dogs WILL NOT be allowed to walk the route. Some exceptions may be made at the discretion of the committee.
25. The Parade Assembly Chairperson, Chief Marshal or Committee President have the authority to disallow any entry to proceed out of the assembly area if they feel there is a safety concern or, in their judgment, the entry is not abiding by the rules and regulations as stated above. If an entry is removed from the parade, there will be no refund of the entry fee.
If there are any questions regarding the application or clarity of the above rules, all inquiries should be made to the Chief Marshal (miltonsantamarshal@gmail.com) in advance of Parade Day.
The Parade Committee has the final decision on accepting any or all entries.