2020 Chamber Christmas Parades, "Vintage Christmas"

The Chamber invites you to take part in our annual Christmas Parades. This year's theme is "Vintage Christmas". Crystal River Parade - December 5th | 6:00 p.m. Inverness Parade - December 12th | 12:00 p.m.

ALL PARADE ENTRIES MUST BE DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS!  PARADE ENTRIES WITH NO DECORATIONS WILL BE TURNED AWAY.  WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DECORATE ACCORDING TO THE PARADE THEME -

"VINTAGE CHRISTMAS".

 

Completed Parade Applications, Proof of Auto Insurance for any vehicle in the parade and signed disclaimers are due Monday, November 20, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. Crystal River Parade - December 5th | 6:00 p.m. | Downtown Crystal River Inverness Parade - December 12th | 12:00 p.m. | Inverness Main Street .  If a vehicle is being used in the parade, proof of insurance must be submitted with this application.  Any entry using a vehicle that does not have proof of insurance will not be permitted to participate.  No exceptions!

 

IMPORTANT:  YOU MAY REACCESS YOUR APPLICATION TO ENTER OR UPDATE INFORMATION BY LOGGING BACK INTO EVENTENY AND VIEWING YOUR APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THIS LINK:  www.eventeny.com

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ!!!

 

Parade Rules and Other Information

PARADE APPLICATIONS, PROOF OF INSURANCE AND DISCLAIMERS ARE DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 by 5 p.m.

There will be no assigned spots for entries; first come, first served. 

Commercial entry fee is per unit.  Businesses can have up to two trucks, cars, boats, motor homes, etc.  Truck with a trailer is considered one unit.  More than two units per entry will be an additional $20 per unit.  Entrant must advise the Chamber of any additional units and pay the extra fee before November 25, 2020. Entrant may not bring additional non-paid units on the date of the parade.   

REGISTRATION AT NO CHARGE ONLY APPLIES TO:  Police, sheriff, fire, government officials currently in office, military, school bands/drill teams and current year pageant winners (proof of current title must be provided).

In consideration of the health concerns surrounding COVID-19, the Chamber will implement the following additional provisions for the 2020 parades:

1.    All parade participants are requested to wear face masks or coverings during set up within the parade grounds and while waiting for their group to be ushered into the parade lineup.

2.    Participants are reminded to adhere to 6’ social distancing from the time of check in through the conclusion of the parade and disassembly at the route conclusion.  This includes maintaining social distancing from the audience, as well.

3.    The Chamber will provide port-a-lets with handwashing stations. Additional handwashing stations will also be installed throughout the parade staging area. However, entrants are urged to bring hand sanitizer for all participants in their group and remind participants to use sanitizer regularly.

4.    Entrants shall sign a waiver to be provided by the Chamber holding the Chamber and City of Crystal River and/or City of Inverness harmless for any instances of COVID-19 infection that may result from participating in the parade.

5.    No participants will be allowed to throw or hand ANY items to the audience during the parade.  (see below for further explanation)

6.    In the event the parade is cancelled by government action or decree resulting from COVID-19 concerns, applicants will be eligible for a 100% refund of the application fee within 30 days of cancellation.

Crystal River Parade Check-in & Route Information

Check-in Location: Corner of S.E. 1st Terrace & Three Sisters Springs Blvd.

Route: The parade will leave from the intersection of Citrus Ave and Hwy 19. It will follow the southbound lane of Hwy 19 until it reaches Paradise Point Road, next to the SunTrust Bank. The parade will funnel into that empty lot, and floats will exit by either bypassing the empty lot and continuing down Paradise Point Road or they may enter Hwy 19 from Fort Island Trail. Viewer visibility will be mostly limited to the passenger side of the float. 

Inverness Check-In & Route Information

Check-in: Check-in for the Inverness Parade will be at the back entrance to Citrus High School, from West Highland Boulevard, nearest the stadium.

Route: The parade will begin at the County bus garage entrance and proceed south along Main Street to West Highland Boulevard.  Sheriff’s units will assist in guiding entrants off the parade route. Entrants are not to stop on Highland Boulevard but may pull off any side street or return back to the high school to break down unit and have participants picked up. Viewer visibility will be on both sides of the float, but the judges will be located on the passenger side of the float. 

 

IMPORTANT:

We have had past issues with children becoming lost and attempting to wander into dangerous situations while trying to locate their group. Please make sure everyone from your parade entry knows what name the organization was registered under. We have had units register under one name, but the participants showed up asking for their float location using a different name.  This has caused confusion and delays in the past.

 

The floats line up in the same order they check-in to the parade, so it is suggested that there is always open communication between the group leaders and participants about float location. Vehicles will not be able to travel up or down the streets once they are full of floats, so please be prepared. This is all about the safety of you and/or your child. 

 

A meeting place, time, lead contact along with a cell phone number of the contact should be set up in advance of the parade and the information supplied to all participants, along with a copy of the parade route, rules and guidelines.

 

Judging and Guidelines

The parade lineup is first come, first served (except for City and County officials and Grand Marshals). Those that wish to be near the front of the parade are encouraged to show up early. We will begin checking in floats at 2:00 p.m. in Crystal River and 8:00 a.m. in Inverness. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE AT THE PARADE STAGING AREA AND PARK WITHOUT CHECKING IN. If you do so, you will be asked to move to a different location. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• Judges will be along the parade route (on your right-hand side!) in front of ReMax Realty in Crystal River and on the patio of Angelo's Restaurant on the corner of Main Street and Osceola Avenue in Inverness.

• Numbers will be handed out during parade staging. These need to be placed on the passenger's side of the entry for judges to read. Please do not stop in front of the judging area. This causes the entire parade to back-up.

• Crystal River - Floats will only be viewed on the passenger side of an entry. There will be no view from the north bound lane, only the south bound.  All entries must be decorated and should be appropriate with the entry theme.  Please ensure that decorations are well attached.

• To avoid any confusion, there must not be any entries containing a Santa Claus. Because there is only one Santa, we can only have one Santa in the parade. Unfortunately, if you do not comply with this rule, your Santa will have to leave, or your float will not be allowed into the parade. No returns on entry fee in this case. 

• Entrants are asked to stay approximately 20 feet from the entrant before them. This helps to ensure the safety of each entrant and adequate social distancing.

• All entries are encouraged to use appropriate music and creativity to add to the festive atmosphere of the parade. Please be considerate when setting the volume control while out on the parade route and in the staging area.

• Due to space limitations, we ask that entries such as car clubs, tractors, motorcycles, 4-wheelers, etc. to have NO MORE THAN 20 VEHICLES,  . Vehicles are not permitted to do any stunts, this includes burn outs, powerslides, "donuts", etc. All vehicular entries must keep wheels on the ground at all times or will not be permitted to return in 2021.

• Due to COVID-19 concerns, absolutely NOTHING may be thrown or handed to the audience by parade participants.  This includes candy, beads, glow sticks, etc., or brochures, pamphlets, maps, flyers, business cards, booklets or advertising of any kind. You will be asked to stop, asked to leave, and will not be able to return in 2021 if you do not comply. ANY PARADE ENTRANT FOUND TO BE THROWING CANDY WILL BE UNABLE TO RETURN IN 2021. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• All animal entries shall have a clean-up crew. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• All entries featuring children must have adult chaperones.  Children under the age of 10 are suggested to remain on floats, as there will be nowhere to stop to place the children back on the float if they get tired. 

Awards

Awards will be presented at the Christmas Parades Award Mixer hosted by Just Amuse Me! on December 17, 2020 from 5-7 p.m.

Award Categories:  Best Commercial Entry, Best Non-Commercial Entry, Best Religious Entry, Best School-Related Entry, and the Judges Choice Award.