2024 Collin County MLK Parade Rules
PARADE RULES. Entries are non-refundable. Should the parade be canceled due to inclement weather, the proceeds from the parade will go to scholarships awarded by the Collin County NAACP.
PARADE ROUTE IS 1.2 miles.
Read all rules carefully, as noncompliance may result in termination of your participation in the parade.
1. NOTHING THROWN. For safety reasons, nothing can be thrown from the floats. (No candy, toys, confetti, etc). Items may be HANDED out. If items are being handed out, a member or members from each group should walk alongside the group’s float or vehicle and hand, not throw, items to the crowd.
2. FLOAT REQUIREMENTS: For safety reasons, no entries can exceed 12 feet in height.
● Optimum size 6’ x 10’; Maximum size 6’ x 16’ (not including trailer tongue).
● May be towed (garden tractor or truck/auto) or self-propelled.
● Decoration of tow vehicle is not required.
● At least one person walking on each side of the float.
3. APPROVAL: After the lineup, all vehicles and groups will need to be approved by a parade committee member. Parade units will follow instructions from Parade Staff, Parade Volunteers and members of the Plano Police Department.
4. ANIMALS: No horses or other animals allowed.
5. THEME: Our 2024 theme is “Living the Dream: It Begins with Me.” The Collin County NAACP parade committee has the final approval of all parade entries. If any entries are deemed inappropriate for the family theme, they will be removed from the parade. (Hate-speech, profanity, “scary” images or characters, etc., will not be allowed.). The Parade Staff reserves the right to remove any unit from the line of march for any reason or cause without advance notice.
6. POLITICIANS/POLITICAL CANDIDATES: Only the name of the politician/candidate and the elected position/title will be allowed on the vehicles. No political party “message” allowed. Each candidate must pay the entry fee.
7. ALCOHOL: No alcohol is allowed in the parade or during the community celebration.
8. STAGING AREA: The staging will occur on Avenue I and 13th Street, near the Douglass Community mural. Access to the staging area will begin at 8:00 a.m. A parade pass with your line-up number will be emailed two days before the event. Your number must be displayed on the windshield of your vehicle to enter the parking lot to line up. Signs will display the line-up numbers directing you to your numbered parking space. Parade entry forms turned in after the posted deadline will be added to the end of the parade line-up. All parade entries must be decorated and labeled.
9. NON-PARADE PARTICIPANTS: Family members and friends are NOT allowed to stay with participants in the parade area or the line of march.
10. VEHICLES: All vehicles must have license plates, current registration, inspection, and insurance up to date. We encourage you to show up with a full tank of gas. Staging will occur near the mural on 13th Street and Avenue I. A parade pass with your line-up number will be emailed to you two days prior to the event. Your number must be displayed on the windshield of your vehicle to enter the parking lot to line up. Signs will display the line-up numbers directing you to your numbered parking space. Parade entry forms turned in after the posted deadline will be added to the end of the parade line-up. All parade entries must be decorated and labeled.
11. PARKING/VEHICLES: ONLY VEHICLES DRIVING IN THE PARADE WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE STAGING AREA. Vehicles transporting walking groups to the staging area will not be allowed in the staging area. Finding parking for said vehicles will be the responsibility of each group.
12. SIGNAGE: Signs for floats are the responsibility of the organizations.
13. NO-REFUNDS: Parade fees are non-refundable.
14. FIRE SAFETY: Parade floats which include hay, paper streamers or decorations shall have a minimum of one fire extinguisher affixed to the trailer.
- No flammables or containers are allowed on a parade float or trailer transporting people.
- There shall be no smoking prior to and around a parade float while in movement.
- No fireworks or the like allowed on a trailer or float.
- If there is a fire extinguisher required, it must be displayed and serviceable.
15. CELL PHONE: We need a cell phone number for one contact person for EVERY PARADE ENTRY. Make sure your phone is on and charged. (This is in case the committee needs to reach you before the lineup).
16. PARADE RE-ENTRY: Once your group has completed the parade route, please DO NOT re-enter the parade.
17. PARADE MOVEMENT: Once you have begun moving in the parade, please do not stop along the route for performances etc.; the parade is to continue moving without stopping.
18. JUDGING: Your float must be ready for judging (decorated, set up, lights on, etc.) no later than 9:15 am. Judges will assess each float during the parade as each float passes the Judges areA. Winners will be notified by the end of the parade and asked to return to the Winner’s Circle, located in the parking lot at Avenue I and 13th Street.