Parade Rules

1. Our volunteer Parade Marshalls are the official on-site authorities. Any instruction given by them must be followed and your courtesy and cooperation are expected. Any entrant not meeting the requirements of participation may be removed from the lineup and subsequent participation may be declined.
2. All entries must comply with public health restrictions. Please be aware that these restrictions can change on short notice, and entries should be prepared to adapt as needed. Please call the Downtown Truro Partnership’s office if you have specific questions.
3. Entries will be limited to a total of 60. Please note: your entry will not be registered unless all sections of the entry form are completed. Do not submit your entry form until you can give a full description of your float, along with a signed waiver.
4. All motorized entries must include a fully decorated float. Company trucks/cars, service club vans, buses, antique cars, fire trucks, personal| vehicles, etc. are not eligible unless they are pulling a fully-decorated float. Tow vehicles must also be well-decorated. NOTE: An allowance is being made this year for a limited number (maximum 6) of motorized vehicles unable to tow a float. Specific requirements apply for these entries. Please contact the DTP office for full details.
5. Entries should relate to the specific parade theme of “The Best Christmas Parade Ever”
6. All walking groups, horseback riders, etc. must be in costume or brightly dressed in seasonal attire and provide entertainment value suitable for a family audience (not purely promotional)
7. Walking groups will be restricted to a maximum of 20 members
8. Animals (horses, dogs, etc.) are permitted, however, if they are walking (not on a float), entrants are required to take care of clean-up as necessary along the route. Alternatively, horses may wear a diaper.
9. Candy and other giveaway items are permitted at this year’s parade as long as you have designated walkers handing the candy hand to hand. Additionally, it is prohibited to throw candy or giveaway items from any float as it causes a serious safety hazard and impacts everyone’s liability insurance.
10. Clear identification signage at the front or sides of your entry is important, both for viewers and the judges.
11. All float entries must be safe for passengers and spectators. Please ensure all items are well-secured, passengers remain seated and children have adult supervision.
12. All generators must be fully fueled before arrival at the set-up area to ensure there is no need for refueling during set-up or along the parade route.
13. All electrical devices must meet safety standards and electrical output must not exceed the maximum amperage of the generator
14. All floats must carry a fire extinguisher and a minimum of two (2) handheld flashlights.
15. Smoking is not permitted in the set-up area or within 20 feet of any floats or marching entry during the parade.
16. All individuals/groups submitting parade entries must have liability insurance
17. The Downtown Truro Partnership reserves the right to screen all entries with an eye to overall impact on the parade, the theme and purpose, and if necessary, remove unacceptable entries. This a family-oriented event and is not an appropriate venue for political messages or controversial ocial statements
18. The Downtown Truro Partnership reserves the right to have Santa as its entry at the end of the parade. He is not to appear in any other entries,
19. All entries must be pre-registered with the Downtown Truro Partnership. Any unregistered entries arriving on parade day will be refused.
20. Entries will be screened at the Colchester Legion Stadium lot before the parade start to ensure all rules and standards are being met
21. This year we are adding a Sensory Free portion of the parade between Lorne to Queen, please be advised that this will involved for your entry to diminish noises and lights. Further information will be provided closer to the date of the parade

Parade Marshalls have the authority to remove any entries that are obviously incomplete, do not adhere to the rules, or are not preregistered