Make plans for "A Lawrence Christmas" November 25

 Join the holiday fun this year and participate in the tree lighting ceremony and Christmas parade November 25

The application for the Christmas parade is available @cityoflawrence.org website under PARKS DEPARTMENT      

         “A Lawrence Christmas” Parade Rules

1. Entrants must observe all applicable rules and regulations and follow instructions from police and parade officials or be barred from the parade.  “A Lawrence Christmas” committee members reserve the right to remove any entrant from the parade either prior to assembly, while assembling or any time during the parade.
2. Vehicles will not be allowed in the parade unless pulling a float or providing transportation for pageant entrants.  Exceptions will be considered for antique vehicles and other organized specialty car groups with prior approval.
3. NO MATERIALS OR CANDY MAY BE THROWN ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE.  WALKERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAND MATERIALS TO SPECTATORS.
4. Forward movement maneuvers only by marching units are permitted.  No units may stop forward motion for performances except in the areas designated by the “A Lawrence Christmas” Committee.  This stop may not exceed 90 seconds.
5. A space of 50 feet between each unit will be enforced. All units are required to close gap between units when instructed by parade officials.  Failure to do so may warrant removal from the parade.
6. Drivers of any and all vehicles in the parade areas must possess a valid driver’s license, be at least 18 years old, and possess all liability vehicle insurance.
7. Use of high intensity sound making devices is strongly discouraged.  Sound of any type must be approved by the “A Lawrence Christmas” Committee and must be at a compatible sound level.  Only Christmas theme music will be allowed.  Parade officials have the complete authority in this matter and reserve the right to withdraw any unit that does not comply with their instructions to turn down or turn off sound when instructed to do so. Failure to comply with the officials’ instructions will result in immediate removal from the parade and jeopardize future participation. 
8. The “A Lawrence Christmas” Committee reserves the right to withdraw any unit of which costume or performance does not meet the Christmas parade rules and regulations or conform to the standards of reasonable public taste and fit the parade theme.
9. Entrants that do not appear on parade day without prior notification to parade officials or entries that do not comply with the rules and regulations jeopardize future participation in “A Lawrence Christmas” Parade.
10.  Political campaigning is not permitted.
11. The Committee’s decision regarding all entries is final.
12. Application fees are non-refundable for accepted entries.  Each entry must pay the appropriate fee.  
13. The Committee reserves the right to accept or decline any entry.

        FLOATS

1. Only vehicles pulling floats or providing transportation for pageant entries will be allowed in the parade.  Exceptions will be considered for antique vehicles and other organized specialty car groups with prior approval.  Vehicles that are pulling floats should be incorporated as much as possible into the float and decorated accordingly.
2. All entries must be decorated according to a Christmas theme.  All banners must be neatly lettered and legible.  Sketches of homemade floats must be submitted along with the application.  The sketch should include all parts of the float, including towing vehicle. 
3. NO decorations and or float construction material may protrude from the side of the float.  All electrical device must be properly grounded. 
4. Participants must be costumed according to the parade theme, with no participant dressed as Santa Claus.
5. No participants may jump on a float to ride and not interfere with any other unit in any way.  Float capacity will not be exceeded.  No participants will dismount from a float during the parade route. Participants will not have body parts, particularly legs and feet, extending past the sides, front or rear of the float.  This is an extreme safety hazard.
6.  “A Lawrence Christmas “Parade Committee will secure Santa Claus for the parade.  No other Santas are allowed to participate.
7. Float platforms should be at least 7 feet wide and 15 feet long with a fixed axle at/near the rear and a steer able axle at the front. Farm wagons make excellent platforms.  Single or tandem axle trailers normally pulled by a car or truck are not desirable.
8. Floats pulled by animal teams will require prior approval by the Parade Committee and if authorized will require that the participant provide animal waste removal from streets and parking lots.
9. Parade entrants are encouraged to illuminate floats.  Caution should be used when connecting a generator or power transformer to any float. 

        BANDS – MARCHING/WALKING UNITS

1. All marching units must maintain forward motion. Routines that cause gaps will not be permitted.  Stopping or reversing motion will result in removal from the parade and will jeopardize future participation.  Only Christmas theme music will be allowed.
2. No unit may stop forward motion to perform except in areas designated by the Committee.  Performance stops may not last more than 90 seconds.
3. If for any reason a gap of greater than 50 feet is created, marching units must increase their pace to close the gap.
4. All members of any marching unit should be at least 10 years old.  Participants must be suitable costumed with no participant dressed as Santa.  Walking groups must be dressed in uniform that easily identifies walkers as a part of the same group.
5. No vehicle may accompany marching units without written approval.

        LINEUP

All entries will be assigned a line-up number and receive further instructions about the parade upon receipt and approval of the application.

        ROUTE

The parade will start from the Lawrence Government Center parking lot moving west on to Kent Avenue.  It will continue west on Kent Avenue and turn South on Lawton Loop East Drive, Then East on Otis Avenue terminating in front of the Theater at the Fort.  All entries will exit right into the Old National Bank parking lot, proceeding to the rear lot before stopping.