2013 Parade Entry Form

The 2013 Oakville Santa Claus Parade entry form is available.  The important parade dates will be updated August/September 2013.  The parade entry deadline is October 30, 2013 or first 50 entries received, whichever comes first.

Parade Entry Fees

• $150 - Commercial (business and "for-profit" organization)
• $  50 - Community Group/School Fee (not-for-profit organizations, charities and publicly funded education institutes)

New Organizers

If you did not organize an entry in 2012 (even if your group has had an entry in the past), you MUST arrange for a representative to attend the DATE:  TBD meeting. Failure to attend this meeting will result in your entry being disqualified.  No exceptions.

Returning Organizers

If you organized your group’s entry in 2012, your attendance at the DATE:  TBD meeting is not mandatory, however, we recommend that you arrange for a representative to attend the meeting to get any new information and pick up the parade package being distributed that evening.

 *** Participant Regulations ***

All Participants

• All participants (floats, walkers, etc.) must incorporate the parade theme in their music, float design and/or costumes.
• Entries must be entertaining to a family audience, primarily made up of children
• No Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus replica may be part of any entry other than the Official Santa Claus Parade Float.
• Participants in the parade shall not be consuming or giving the impression of consuming alcoholic beverages, and shall refrain from smoking during their participation in the parade.
• All participants must complete the Media Information Outline included in the Entry Form for their group/entry.
• An entry may be refused up to the start of the Parade should the entry not meet Parade guidelines or differ from its approved entry form.

Walkers

• Walking groups should wear costumes that reflect the parade theme.
• Please ensure that you keep up with your group.  Smaller children should be encouraged to ride on a float instead of walking.
• Walking groups shall not have a van or other vehicle following its walkers (including animal groups)
• Please note the maximum  number of walkers allowed per entry is 30. 
• Minimum age for walkers is 10 years.

Floats

• All floats must incorporate the parade theme.  The float design must be chosen and submitted to:  Parade Committee c/o the Department of Recreation and Culture, no later than October 30, 2013.
• Automobiles are not acceptable as a float entry.  Antique automobiles may be considered at the discretion of the parade committee.
• No entry shall exceed 14 feet in height.
• Signage shall be restricted to a total of 2 signs per float.  Each sign must not exceed 2 x 8 feet and must be attached to vehicle.  The sign should state the name of the group and theme so as to be easily identified by the media.  Any acknowledgements should be in smaller lettering below the group name.
• Music is strongly encouraged.  Please play Christmas music only. Your pieces should reflect the parade theme.
• Floats with generators or other possible fire hazards must provide suitable fire extinguishing equipment on the float.
• Handouts and give-a-ways are strongly discouraged.  No entry will distribute literature, pamphlets, leaflets, brochures, flyers or any other written or printed advertising to spectators.  For safety reasons, candy can be distributed from the street level only, NOT thrown from the floats.
• Participants must ride on the inside of the float.  No one is to sit on the edge of the float trailers with their feet dangling over the side.  It is strongly recommended that children be securely seated and supervised on the floats.
• There will be no premature exiting of the parade route.

Judging

Two judging stations will be situated along the parade route.  The first will be located on Lakeshore Blvd. in the downtown square (by the clock) and the other will be on Kerr Street by Heritage Square.  Entries will be judged according to the criteria below.  Judging is based on four categories.  Each category is rated out of 5 for an overall score of 20.

• Effort: adherence to the rules, theme, organization and planning
• Theme: adherence to chosen theme, effective presentation of theme.
• Appearance and Originality: Style, presentation, overall appearance, audience response and originality.
• Participation: from children on float, from audience, community spirit, enthusiasm from members of the group

Award Winning Categories

• Best Commercial Float
• Best Community
• Best School Float
• Best Walking Group

Grand Prize Winner - Best Overall Float

A monetary prize of $500 will be awarded to the Beset Overall Float.  This award will be determined by the best score overall.  The Judges will decide tie breakers.  All decision will be final.  Charitable groups will be allowed to keep the prize money however; non-charitable groups must donate their prize money to the charity of their choice.  The Awards Presentation will be held at the Operating Engineers Banquet Hall on TBD at TBD.

Pictures of the winning entries in each category will be submitted to the Oakville newspapers and will be posted on the Oakville Santa Claus Parade website following the Parade.