RULES & REGULATIONS
ANNUAL VFW SANTA PARADE
GENERAL PARADE & FLOAT RULES
- All floats should be designed to coincide with our theme.
- For your safety and protection as well as ours, do not throw candy or other goods from your float. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PRACTICE THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO OUR YOUNGER PARADE WATCHERS. If you would like to distribute something, have members of your group walk along-side your float and pass in hand from the side of the float. Important: Keep small children away from your float at all times.
- Absolutely no undecorated cars or trucks will be allowed in the parade line-up, with the exception of antique cars and emergency vehicles. If anyone arrives at the parade in an undecorated car or truck and does not meet one of these two exceptions, they will be excluded from the parade line-up.
- Absolutely no unnecessary cars or trucks will be allowed to park at the Hunking School or Wood School. Space is very tight, and there is barely enough room for the floats. If you must supply your float with materials from cars, you should plan to do so off site or prepare for a speedy drop off on site and then leave. If you leave a car unattended at either location and it is interfering with the parade line-up, the vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense.
- The parade is organized at both the Hunking School and the Wood School. As a general rule, all floats in organize at the Hunking School and all marching groups, including Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, dance schools, and youth organizations organize at the Wood School off Laurel Avenue.
- No unauthorized Santas or Mrs. Claus are allowed on any floats. There is only one Santa, as you know, and he comes at the very end of the parade.
- If there is an emergency while you are on the parade route, please pull your entire group to the far right side of the road, letting emergency vehicles through.
- The use of silly string and snap caps is prohibited by local city ordinance. Parade officials reserve the right to inspect any float or other vehicle for these or any other illegal contraband. If any such items are found, they will be confiscated immediately and turned over to law enforcement authorities for possible prosecution.
- Placement of all parade participants is made at the discretion of the Parade Committee. Parade details are announced the week before the parade in The Eagle-Tribune and The Haverhill Gazette, as well as WHAV.net and on our website www.haverhillsantaparade.com.