KINSTON CHRISTMAS PARADE - SATURDAY DECEMBER 7, 2024 4:30 PM

Please read the Christmas Parade Information document attached below in its entirety before filling out and submitting your online registration. After you submit the online form, you’ll need to select the appropriate registration fee to pay from the links below. You must complete the form and pay the fee in order for your space to be reserved. If you have any questions at all regarding registration or payment, please call 252.525.6144.

Registration is $40

After Friday November 15, 2024 at 5:00 PM, registration will be $60.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

(###)

###

####

Name of Business/Organization

Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Number of Participants Included in your Entry

Name of Entry/Float Theme

WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU! Your details serve 2 purposes. It helps with organizing the parade line-up and provides us with narrative notes for the news crew commentary.

Are you a club, a business, industry, etc.? Do you have a particular theme? Is this the first time in this parade? What drew you to the Kinston Parade? Are you motorized or walking? Vehicle(s), what type? Are you a non-profit/civic organization? What kind? What do you do, where and why? Are you performing? If so, how/in what way?

HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

The undersigned participant and any affiliated persons or entities hereby agree to protect, defend, indemnify and hold Downtown Kinston Revitalization, City of Kinston, their officials, employees and agents, free and harmless from and against any and all losses, penalties, damages, settlements, costs, charges, professional fees or other expenses or liabilities of every kind and arising out of or relating to any and all claims, liens, demands, obligations, actions, proceedings, or causes of action of every kind, whether for property damage, personal injury or death, in connection with or arising out of participation in the below-referenced event and any and all associated activities in accordance therewith and the use of the public property allowed thereby.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

I have read and agree to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by Downtown Kinston Revitalization on this webpage below.

INSURANCE DISCLAIMER

I understand that Downtown Kinston Revitalization's Parade Insurance DOES NOT cover parade participants in any way.

REGISTRANTS

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF YOU, THE REGISTRANT, TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF YOUR ENTRANTS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THESE REGULATIONS. SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.

GENERAL

Effective 2024, the throwing or handing out of any items, including candy, is strictly prohibited during the parade. Violators will be removed from the parade.

Only pre-registered participants are allowed in the parade.

Horses are not permitted in the parade.

Dogs must be tethered and under the control of an adult who is required to adhere to leash laws and clean up after the dog.

The official parade Santa is the only fully costumed Santa permitted in the parade.

Children under 12 must remain on a float for the duration of the parade.

Performers must perform while moving and may stop only if the parade stops or for emergencies.

The parade route has been shortened. It concludes at the intersection of E Caswell and McLewean.

Participants can arrange for pick-up at McLewean and E Caswell or return on foot to Grainger Stadium by way of McLewean to Vernon.

Food and drink are not provided to participants. Please come prepared. Restrooms are available at the stadium.

The parade typically lasts around 2 hours, starting at 4:30 PM.

Lights, lights, and more lights! This is an evening parade, so make sure you are visible. Incorporate as many lights as possible on your floats and costumes. The more festive, the better.

Ensure any signage is large enough to be easily read. This allows everyone to know who you are.

There is no on-site registration the day of the parade

STAGING

Location & Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm, Grainger Stadium, 400 E Grainger Ave, Kinston, NC 28501
Staging is managed by Scott Alston and his Parks & Recreation team
Scott Alston’s decisions at the staging location are final and your registration indicates agreement.
Your patience and courtesy is appreciated during the lineup.

CAR CLUBS

Up to 10 cars can enter under one registration fee.

NO-FEE ENTRIES

Academic Schools K-12, First Responders, Military Organizations, and City & County Services may register at no charge

YOUR TEAM CAPTAIN

The individual registering (named and contact on the entry form) assumes the role of Team Captain and is the primary contact person. AS THE REGISTRANT AND TEAM CAPTAIN YOU AGREE TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR PARADE CREW UNDERSTANDS AND ABIDES BY ALL PARADE REGULATIONS.

SAFETY

Enlist some volunteers to walk alongside your entry to keep the spectators pushed back out of the street. This is very important.
Turning left onto East Caswell may be a tight turn for longer vehicles. Please plan accordingly.
Do not encourage anyone to approach you while in the parade

LINE UP NUMBER

Due to the size of the parade, you may not receive your number until a day or two before the parade. If you do not have yours by then, please contact Scott Alston at Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation, (252) 939-3332.
Drivers please maintain a 2-3 car lengths distance between each other.

VEHICLE INSPECTIONS

An Officer will be at the lineup to check for current license, insurance, vehicle inspections and registration.

FLOATS

Floats should be completed before arrival at Grainger Stadium. Incomplete floats risk disqualification from the parade as determined by the line-up organizer whose decision is final.
Floats must be constructed so as to remain intact for the duration of the route.
IMPORTANT: Each float and marching group must include some adults walking alongside to ensure people clear the street to make room for you.
Because it will be early evening, be extra cautious of spectators along the parade route, particularly children, darting across the street. No one wants any mishaps.
Please eat and hydrate before the parade begins.

LIGHTS

Because the parade theme is Light the Night, and because Neuse News will be broadcasting the parade LIVE on Facebook, you will want to make sure spectators and news crew see you in the evening light, so incorporate lights into your presentation even if only glow sticks if those are appropriate for you.

A FAMILY PARADE

NOTHING adult in nature, character or potentially dangerous or offensive may be displayed performed, or broadcast.
This is a family Christmas parade, therefore, costumes and performances including dances and songs with profanity, offensive or disrespectful lyrics are prohibited. Keep it Christmas and child-friendly. Dance routines must be family-friendly and age appropriate.

GENERATORS

Generators used to power lights and sound systems in the parade should be installed with as much safety concern as possible and also to not detract from the experience of your entry and guests by noise; a quiet generator is preferred. A fire extinguisher should be handy.

PERFORMANCES

Music for performances must be either live or from a PA system, NOT from a car stereo system or a boom box.

MOTORIZED VEHICLE STUNTS

Please use extreme caution. Because of the redesign of Queen Street that reduced the lanes from 4 to 2, and the large crowd, go cart, dune buggy, golf carts, motorcycle and such vehicular stunts and maneuvers could pose a safety risk for spectators. Please select your locations with safety in mind.

**Downtown Kinston Revitalization’s parade insurance does not cover parade participants or spectators**

Participants are expected to adhere to these procedures so that we have the most wonderful Kinston Christmas Parade ever and we can continue to have safe evening parades.

A completed registration form, a signed Hold Harmless Agreement and payment signifies you have read, understand and agree to adhere to the terms of this document.

Downtown Kinston Revitalization, The City of Kinston, Lenoir County Parks and Recreation, the Neuse News Team/Magic Mile Media, your community, our guests and multi-state social media viewers look forward to seeing you in the parade. We thank you for your participation in the Kinston Christmas parade. It is YOU who creates the best commUNITY Christmas parade in Lenoir County. Let’s have the most magical parade ever and give the children some wonderful parade memories!