Programs

Note:

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE 2026 HOLIDAY PARADE
2026 Parade Route: Parade will begin at Dunlawton Avenue and Jackson Street and proceed east to Spruce Creek Road. The parade will disperse north and south on Spruce Creek Road. The eastbound and westbound lanes on Dunlawton Avenue will be closed from Nova Road to Powers Ave beginning at 1:00 p.m. The route is approximately 0.7 miles long and takes close to one hour to walk. The Parade begins at 2pm and will last until approximately 4pm.
Directions for setup will be emailed to the address provided on the application one week prior to the parade.
ENTRY RULES
1. All vehicles, including those pulling floats and accompanying walking groups, must be decorated at least 75%.
2. There is a width restriction of 12 feet on all entries. Semitrucks and large rigs are ineligible for entry.
3. There is only one Santa in the parade. Please do not have anyone dressed as Santa. Violators will be pulled from the parade.
4. All parade entries are required to complete and return the liability waiver as a condition of participation.
5. Entries will be judged on appearance, originality and must conform to the parade theme “Hollywood Holidays” to be eligible for judging.
6. The parade awards will be given to the entries deemed by the judges to best conform to the parade theme. Awards will be given to first and second place entries per category for both floats and performing, marching, and miscellaneous entries. Entries will be placed as float or performing, marching, misc. by Parks and Recreation staff. Judging will take place during the parade at the judges’ stand.
7. There will be no stopping along the parade route to perform. This includes in front of the Judge’s stand. Any entry who stops to perform will be disqualified from judging.
8. Candy may be distributed; however please do not throw items from vehicles to the crowd. All candy, toys, or other items distributed must be handed out by a walker and only after the official parade start line.
9. Any music played from a parade entry must be Holiday-themed and appropriate for all audiences.
10. All vehicles driving in the parade must keep their front windows rolled all the way down while on the parade route. Front windows and windshields may not be blocked by decorations.
11. Identify your entry by displaying your organization’s name on both sides of the vehicle. The organization or company listed on the application must be more prominently displayed than any supporting organizations or sponsors.
12. Horses are permitted in the parade but will be placed at the end of the parade and will stage on Butterfly Blvd. Parade entries with any living animal are responsible for their own clean up.
FLOAT SETUP INSTRUCTIONS
1. Float entries will not be given position numbers. They will line up according to their arrival. All vehicles traveling with your float need to arrive together or they will have to be placed in a different position.
2. Floats will line up on S. Swallowtail Dr. (behind Big Lots) beginning at 9am. Due to road closures entries must enter Swallowtail from Village Trail, NOT Dunlawton Ave. Maps will be sent one week prior to the parade. All entries are to be in position and parade-ready no later than 1 pm.
3. People accompanying floats will not be permitted to park on Swallowtail Dr. They will have to park at Big Lots parking lot and walk in.

PERFORMING, MARCHING AND MISCELLANEOUS SETUP INSTRUCTIONS
1. Performing, marching, and miscellaneous entries will be staged on S. Jackson St beginning at 11 am. Only parade vehicles will be allowed to enter Jackson St. All entries are to be in position no later than 1:30 pm.
2. Due to road closures, if you are assigned to Jackson St, please enter from Spruce Creek Rd.
3. Position numbers will be emailed to the address on the application one week prior to the event and will have a map attached to show setup location and access.
4. Please make sure that all members of your group are aware of their position number and the drop off procedures before they arrive at the parade.
5. If your performing, marching, and miscellaneous group includes multiple entries, and you would like to be placed together, please indicate that on the application and we will do our best to place you side by side.
6. Performing, marching, and miscellaneous entries must be able to easily make the turn from S. Jackson onto Dunlawton. Vehicles that can make the turn will be assigned to the non-float category and will setup on S. Jackson.

Thank you for participating in this year’s parade. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Port Orange Parks and Recreation Department at 386-506-5934.