Sarasota Holiday Parade

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Insurance is mandatory for participation! Must be provided via email to admin@sarasotaholidayparade.com--no paper mail accepted. The addresses provided below are only to identify the organizations--do not send mail to them.

Every participant organization, whether entering a motorized, non motorized, or walking unit, must supply proof of insurance. A general liability and automobile liability insurance policy at limits of $1 million combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage shall be carried for each entry that has any motorized vehicle and/or trailer. Walkers-only entries must have the General Liability. Certificates of Insurance AND Endorsement pages confirming the policy coverage must be submitted in order to participate. COIs can include both General Liability and Automobile Liability if applicable or separate COIs and Endorsements for each type. A COI and Endorsement pages are required. Starting in 2024 only the Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc is required to be an Additional Insured on the required insurance documents. See below for the exact name and address to be used. Each COI must contain an additional insured clause and cancellation clause per the instructions below. In the description block of each COI please include: "Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc and all sponsors of the Sarasota Holiday Parade Dec 6, 2025 are added as Additional Insured." In addition to the Certificate of Insurance, the Endorsement page naming the additional insureds for this coverage must be included. Please ensure your Insurance Company adds these details in the description block, to include the date of this year's parade in order to have the correct event covered by insurance.

Additional Insured Clause:

In the description block of each COI please include: "Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc and all sponsors of the Sarasota Holiday Parade Dec 6, 2025 are added as Additional Insured."

Sarasota Holiday Celebration, Inc. must be listed in the “Certificate Holder” block on the COI as follows:

Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc.
402 W. Cornelius Circle
Sarasota, FL 34232

This is to address liability arising out of any operation of named insured in connection with the Sarasota Holiday Parade. The insurance afforded by the policy to said Additional Insured shall be primary insurance and any other valid and collectible insurance available to said Additional Insured shall be excess insurance.
 

Cancellation Clause
This policy of liability insurance shall not be cancelled or suspended or terminated, nor shall the limits of liability be reduced, until after 30 days’ notice is given by certified mail to: Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc., 402 W. Cornelius Circle, Sarasota, FL 34232

Entries are approved by Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc. based on overall show value. The parade is an entertainment medium, and the contribution of each unit to this concept is critical. Use of theme, artistic beauty, color, animation, special effects, originality, rider personnel, costumes, and visual appeal all come into play in determining the acceptability of the entry. Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc. strives to present a parade that the general community will enjoy. The Sarasota Holiday Parade is not a platform for political, religious, or social issues. No entry will be permitted to participate in the parade if, in the judgment of Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc., it reflects such issues. By applying for entry, it’s understood and agreed upon that the decision of Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc. is discretionary and final.

The safety of parade participants and spectators is our primary concern. Your cooperation is anticipated and appreciated. To this end, parade monitors and safety marshals will be stationed along the parade route. Each entry and participant is subject to immediate ejection from the parade for any action deemed to be in violation of parade rules and regulations.

Due to excess refuse on the streets after the parade, and for the safety of participants and spectators, effective in 2022 participants are not allowed to hand out items along the parade route. All items are prohibited and include coupons, flyers, candy, flags, beads, etc. Any questions can be directed to the admin@sarasotaholidayparade.com

• All participants (floats, walkers, bands, etc.) MUST incorporate the stated theme in their music, float design, and costumes.
• Entries MUST be of family-friendly entertainment value.
• No Santa Claus replica may be part of any other entry other than the official Santa Claus float at the end of the parade. No drivers or participants may dress like Santa. Anyone dressed as Santa (excluding animals) will be asked to leave the parade.
• Certain items are no longer allowed to be thrown or given away during the parade. This includes candy, flyers, coupons, or any other items, to include any Confetti or Confetti Cannons.
• No open fires are permitted in the parade line-up area.
• Firearms or fireworks of any kind are prohibited at all times.
• Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages in or around the parade is prohibited.

• All floats must be decorated with the stated holiday theme.
• The tow unit must be fully powered and decorated with the theme of the float. If the driver is visible to the public, the driver must be in costume consistent with the theme of the float (again, no Santa or Mrs. Claus costumes are permitted.)
• No tow unit may display a commercial name or logo other than that of the organization entering the parade.

Each entry fee will allow the participating organization to enter TWO vehicles up to a maximum of FOUR. A vehicle is defined as a car, truck, van or bus. For every vehicle after Two, up to Four, they are charged half of the entry fee. In the event that an organization desires to enter more than Four vehicles this will be brought to the Board for consideration and a vote.For example, If a commercial entry wants to enter four vehicles in the parade they would pay the $300 Commercial Entry fee and then an additional $150 for a third and another $150 for a fourth vehicle. Another example, if an entry is made up entirely of golf carts, for example four golf carts, they would pay the entry fee for the first two golf carts and half again for each of the additional two golf carts. Each participating organization entering a Float - defined as a truck and trailer - will be charged the entire entry fee Per Float up to a maximum of Two Floats. For example, if a nonprofit has two floats they pay the nonprofit entry fee, $150 X 2 = $300. For each float entry one additional vehicle is allowed to be part of the entry as a support vehicle without additional charges.Any entries that don't fall into the criteria discussed above will be discussed with the Board of Directors on a case by case basis. 

• Walking units include musical groups, drill teams, or unique units approved by Sarasota Holiday Celebration Inc. Children under 14 years of age may participate in the parade, with adult supervision.
• A walking unit may not have a van or other vehicle following its walkers. If it does, it would be considered a motorized vehicle entry. (Again, read the entry form instructions carefully when selecting your entry type.)
• All walkers must be in costumes that reflect the stated holiday theme.

• Participants who wish to have animals in their float or walking unit must indicate so in their entry.
• Any entry with animals must provide a clean-up crew responsible for cleaning and disposal of any waste produced by animals along the parade route and in the staging area. Failure to comply will result in ejection from parade.
• All animals must be in costumes or decorations consistent with the theme of the unit.
• All animals, if walking, must be able to keep up with parade flow.

Judging is from the review stand on Main Street. Your group will be asked to perform as they pass the judging stand. Judging criteria include:

• Appearance, originality, style, presentation
• Adherence to the rules, etiquette, theme, organization, and planning
• Arrival in a timely manner

Winners are announced on our website and our Facebook page. (Be sure to “Like” the page for important updates!)