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Junior Parade Application

Edison Junior Parade Application

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Parade Rules
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Edison Junior Parade rules

Non-Motorized Divisions:

Walking or Performing Individuals & Families, Group, Commercial Non-Performing, Commercial Performing, Scouts, Strollers, Wagons, and Trikes or Bikes and Manually Pulled Amateur Floats. NO MOTORIZED UNITS of any kind, including golf carts allowed in the in these divisions.

Motorized Divisions:

Amateur Floats: Commercial, Civic Association and Non-Profit
Professional Floats Specialty Units

Animals: No live animals are allowed unless approved by the parade committee.

Favors: Tossing items (including candy), from any part of the entry is prohibited on the parade route during the parade. Favors may be handed out by the walkers along the edge of the parade route.

Wagon Division: Maximum size is 16 square feet

Manually Pulled Floats: Must be under 12 feet long.

Performances: Performances are to be continuous throughout the parade, NO STOPPING for individual performances in front of the judging area.

All competitive entries must be of amateur status. Professionally built entries are to be
noncompetitive.

The Parade Chairperson reserves the right to limit the number of adult walkers with any division if the view of the television camera, judges and parade audience may be blocked by an excessive numbers of walkers per unit.

Fire Extinguisher: A 2A-10BC fire extinguishers with an up to date inspection tag shall
be on each unit.

Inspection: All floats may be inspected by a designated official of the Parade Committee and/or the City of Fort Myers Building and Fire Department at any time.

Fuel: No refueling of generator is permitted while generator is running. Any gasoline container shall be in a U.L. (Underwriters Laboratory) approved container. Gasoline shall be placed in a safe ventilated area.

Smoking or Drinking Alcoholic Beverages: WILL NOT BE ALLOWED in the staging area or on the parade route. Anyone guilty of the infraction may be removed from the parade line-up.

No Firearms or other explosive materials are allowed: All decorations must be fire resistant.

Exhaust pipes on vehicles: should be clear and not come in contact with anything flammable on floats.

No Vehicles are allowed in the parade except those approved by the Parade Chair

Drivers: All vehicles including golf carts must be operated by a licensed driver.

Release and Indemnification Agreement: MUST BE signed by each participant. Failure to do so will result on a removal from the parade.

Judging Criteria: Entries are judged on the following:

    • FIRST IMPRESSION
    • ORIGINALITY
    • THEME COMPLETION
    • All aspects of the entry should reflect the theme or idea i.e., costumes, props, signage, music, etc.

PARADE MEETING: There will be a mandatory Junior Parade meeting the week of the parade. At least person from your group must attend. Parade details will be available via Edison Festival web site, email, or you can ask
questions with the Junior Parade Chairperson – Cindy Sherkus at (239)-225-8033 or
Cindy100264@gmail.com

Upload Your Insurance Documents

All entries should have insurance in order to protect themselves from any possible litigation to your organization from parade spectators, in case of an accident. Insurance coverage of at least $1 million general liability. The organization must list the Edison Festival of Light and the City of Fort Myers as additional insured.

Edison Grand Parade Rules

  1. All entries must provide family-oriented entertainment consistent with this
    celebration in honor of Thomas Edison. All Floats and Parade Units must be
    illuminated with bright and or colorful lights. Lights must be bright enough to
    be seen by all paraded goers. The Floats and Parade Units must have an
    Thomas Edison Theme, to enhance Thomas Edison achievements.
  2. NO ALCOHOL is allowed in the parade. Bottled water or canned soft drinks
    are acceptable.
  3. No Firearms or Drugs allowed by any parade participant and or on any
    Parade Float or unit.
  4. The Parade Marshals have the right to inspect all units prior to and during the
    Parade. All entries are required to always comply with parade marshal or
    police officer instruction.
  5. All vehicle entries must be covered by liability insurance to the satisfaction of
    the Parade Committee. Proof of insurance must be provided with the
    application.
  6. Motor vehicle entries will be limited to 10 vehicles per entry. The Parade
    Chairman may waive this limitation.
  7. Parade applicants shall provide on-site contact information for each person
    responsible for the entry.
  8. All entrants may be subject to City, County Fire and Safety inspections and
    code enforcement and additional fees as necessary.
  9. The use of drones is prohibited in the vicinity of the parade. The parade route
    is a “NO DRONE ZONES” and aircraft is subject to being impounded unless
    approved by the Edison Festival of Light or the Fort Myers Police
    Department.
  10. Parade units violating any of these rules may, at the discretion of the Edison
    Festival staff, be disqualified from awards and denied entry in future parades.
  11. Acts of God and Government: Both Parade Entrants and Edison Festival of
    Light, Inc. recognize that Acts of God (including weather & pandemics)
    and Acts of Third Parties (including the City of Fort Myers/Police and Fire
    Departments, State of Florida and U.S. Government, including but not limited
    to their security branches) are beyond the control these parties. To the extent
    that actions by third parties beyond the control of these parties
    (including but not limited to Acts of God/weather, pandemics, Government or
    terrorist acts) preclude or limit the operation of the Parade, or its participants,
    neither party will hold the other responsible for said actions. Both parties
    agree to abide by the regulations and requirements of the City of Fort Myers.
    If the Parade is cancelled due to an act of God/weather, pandemics or Third
    Parties that are beyond the control of the parties, Parade Entrants will not be
    entitled to a refund of their previously paid parade entrant fee.
  12. The Parade Committee reserves the right to exclude from participation, any
    entry which it considers to be advocating or promoting a particular purpose,
    principle, political gain, agenda, or message inconsistent with or contrary to
    those of the Parade.
STAGING RULES

1. All participants must enter staging area through their pre-assigned entrances. This
information will be explained in mandatory parade meeting and emailed to each
participant. Check in as directed. All participants must be aware of their group unit
number and staging location.
to you. Check in as directed. All participants must be aware of their group unit number and staging location.
2. Only vehicles that are registered as being used in the Parade will be allowed in the
staging area.
3. All materials that will be used on your entry must be inside or on the vehicle when
it enters the staging area.
area.
4. Participants shall clean up any materials or debris left in the staging area by your
unit(s). This applies particularly (but not exclusively) to units with animals.

 Section 3: Parade Rules

  1. To maintain proper spacing of participants. Bands are not to stop and perform
    in front of the reviewing stand. Marshal’s instructions to resume movement
    must be promptly followed. All units must keep pace with the unit ahead of
    them. Please close any gaps when prompted. Any unit that does not comply
    will be escorted off the parade route.
  2. Children under the age of 5 may ride on parade unit, but due to the length of
    the parade. They are not allowed to march in the parade.
  3. Parade units must continue moving until you have returned to the disband
    area. No stopping or unloading will be allowed prior to that, since this will
    cause congestion and delays in the parade. You will not be able to return to
    the staging areas.
  4. Items such as candy may be handed to children by persons walking along the
    sides of the parade unit. No throwing of items is allowed. Please use caution
    in the interest of safety for the viewing audience.
  5. No throwing of items is allowed.
  6. Drivers of motor vehicles must always remain with the vehicle.
    Dimensions: 

    According to Florida Department of Transportation guidelines, the following
    are the maximum dimensions allowed for floats entered in the Edison Grand
    Parade of Light.
    Maximum Length of a single semi-trailer is 57’4”
    Maximum Height is 13’ 6”
    Maximum Width is 102”

DISTRIBUTION OF FLYERS, PAMPHLETS, CANDY, ETC. WILL BE STRICTLY
ENFORCED!!! For the safety of all parade participants and for the safety of
spectators, TOSSING OR THROWING OF ANY items from the floats walkers and or
parade units is strictly prohibited. Walkers along parade units may hand items in
person. No Throwing! No handing items from a Parade Unit! Violators are subject to
receiving a littering citation, and/or immediate removal from the parade route.

WALKERS: Because of the length of the parade. The staff discourages small
children and adults with illnesses from walking in the parade. All walking units will be
at the discretion of the parade staff.

MUSIC & DECOR: ONLY family-friendly music and decor is permitted. NO
PROFANE, VIOLENT OR SUGGESTIVE MUSIC OR DECOR will be permitted by
walkers or on any float or tow vehicle. Violators will be removed from the parade
route immediately. Please be considerate of others!

FIRE EXTINGUISHER: Each entry must carry a fire extinguisher within the reach of
the driver and it must be TYPE 2A: 10BC 5 Pound “All Purpose”. All entries must be
flaming retardant either by the material used.