Parade Application

DATE & TIME
Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 3:00pm

PARADE ROUTE
The route begins at the intersection of MLK Jr. Blvd. and Cherry Street. The parade continues down Cherry Street before making a right onto Second Street. The parade continues down Mulberry Street until it ends at MLK Jr. Blvd.

CONTACT
Sarah Ford 
sford@cherryblossom.com

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
The following must all be submitted by the application deadline in order to participate in the parade:
1. Completed Application
2. Registration Fee 
3. Insurance

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Friday, February 28, 2025

ACCEPTANCE & NOTIFICATION
- You will be notified of your unit's acceptance into the parade by Monday, March 3.
- It is the responsibility of the main contact listed on this application to ensure that their entire unit is made aware of all parade information.
- We highly encourage patriotic themed floats, vehicle decor, etc.
- WE WILL NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR  DANCE TEAMS.

-All participants must be in a vehicle, float or trailer unless they are a band, ROTC or cheer team. 

REGISTRATION FEES
1. Schools and Military Units: Free
2. Macon-Bibb County Units: Free
3. Non-Commercial Units (Nonprofits, Places of Worship, Community Groups): $100
4. Commercial Units (Businesses and Corporations): $150

PARADE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
The Cherry Blossom Festival does not endorse nor express any political affiliation. Therefore, the Festival will not permit campaigning in any official manner for participants riding or walking in the authorized parade route. Only currently elected officials will be allowed to participate, and they will be recognized for their current elected seat. Currently elected officials may not use campaign signs or merchandise. 

INSURANCE
ALL COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL APPLICANTS: 
MUST provide an insurance certificate stating they have Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) insurance with combined single limit of insurance of no less than $500,000, covering bodily injury, personal injury and property damage. Float units must provide commercial automobile insurance with a minimum combined single limit of no less than $500,000.

THE INSURANCE CERTIFICATE MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS:
a)       Certificate Holder - Macon Georgia Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. & address (794 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201) should be listed as the certificate holder. 
b)       Additional Named Insured - Macon Georgia Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. & address (794 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201) is to be named as Additional Insured with respect to any liability arising from the applicant’s participation in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on both the CGL and automobile policies. 
c)      Cancellation Clause - The insurance certificate shall state the policies certified will neither be canceled nor reduced in limits without a 30-day notice delivered by certified mail to the Cherry Blossom Festival Office, 794 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. 
 
All INDIVIDUAL VEHICLE APPLICANTS:
MUST provide an insurance certificate stating they have minimum automobile insurance liability limits of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence, $100,000 property damage, for all vehicles.

*Applicants who do not provide a certificate verifying the above provisions will not be permitted to participate in the parade.

VEHICLES:
Drivers of all vehicles in the parade and those entering the parade line-up area must have a valid driver’s license, have proper proof of insurance as required by state law, and be at least 18 years old. 

FLOAT INFORMATION
If your organization is interested in having a float made for the parade, please contact local float builder, Kip Dingler, at 478-256-8944 or by email at kipdingler@bellsouth.net.

We highly encourage patriotic themed floats.

Our organization, if selected, agrees to participate in the Parade. In consideration for being accepted as a participant, we irrevocably grant Macon Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival the exclusive right to use in any media our name, likeness, photos or reproduction of our performance for any purpose including promotion, advertising or otherwise. With these rights, we hereby release Macon Georgia's International Cherry Blossom Festival and its employees, sponsors, volunteers and its agents from any claim, liabilities and/ or damages that may now or in the future arise by reason of such use. Further, we acknowledge that we are aware of the risks associated with participation in this Parade and, therefore, on our behalf and that of our heirs, do hereby release the Macon Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival and its employees, sponsors, volunteers and its agents for any and all claims, liabilities and/or damages on account of any personal injury or property damage which may occur from any cause before, during or after the Macon Georgia's Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.  

*I understand that absolutely no items may be thrown or tossed along the parade route. THIS INCLUDES CANDY. If I or any person in my parade unit throw or toss items, Cherry Blossom staff, volunteers, and representatives reserve the right to remove my unit from the parade at any time and will not refund my entry fee.

I, the undersigned, have agreed for my own benefit to participate in various events and activities held during the year 2025 in connection with and/or under the direction of Macon Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival.

I understand that inherent in my participation in such events and activities, such events to include without limitation, parades, is the risk of serious personal injury and property damage. I understand that the Macon Georgia International Cherry Blossom Festival will not provide me with protection against such injury and damage, and I assume all risk of such injury and damage to myself and all other under my direction and control, and to my property and all other property under my direction and control. I hereby waive and release any claim I have or may have in the future against Macon Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival and any of their officers, directors, employees, agents and volunteers, for any personal injury, property damage or other damage I may sustain, whether or not caused in whole or in part by the negligence of such officers, directors, employees, agents and volunteers, which occurs during or as a result of my participation in any of the events and activities held in connection and/or under the direction of the above-referenced entities. Furthermore, in the event I agree to operate a vehicle in connection with any of the events and activities held in connection with and/or under the direction of the Cherry Blossom Festival, I represent that I am validly licensed to drive such vehicle in the events and/or activities and that I have purchased automobile insurance as required by Georgia law, and that I am responsible for complying with all laws that apply to me as a driver of a vehicle. I also agree to obey by the rules put forth by the Parade Committee of the Macon, Georgia International Cherry Blossom Festival, including (but not limited to) abstaining from throwing candy or other items from parade units and the consumption of drugs and/ or alcohol during lineup, on parade unit or along parade route.