Information
Mainstreet Whanganui Christmas Parade Sat 9th December 2pm
Followed by a free family concert at Majestic Square
Entry Criteria
Here is a document outlining the guidelines and criteria for floats to consider before completing the participation form.
This event will operate under Covid 19 restrictions and guidelines according to the Ministry of Health. These guidelines and criteria have been set to ensure a safe parade for participants and spectators as well as an impressive spectacle the whole town can enjoy.
If you have any questions about any of the information contained in this document please don’t hesitate to call us on 348 0157.
Float types for your consideration
1. A truck: Truck floats must have an enclosed back with railing or a safety barrier if you intend to have people standing or dancing on the back. No articulated trucks will be allowed. Think about how you can dress your truck to fit in with a theme you have selected, what can attach to it to make it look less like a truck and more like a float? Can you enclose the cab of the truck to disguise it?
2. Open topped cars: All passengers in a car must comply with current road safety laws, all passengers must be wearing seat belts. All passengers should be dressed according to your theme. Think about what dressing you can add to your car to help it fit with your theme.
3. Trailer or Purpose built floats: A dressed trailer or self powered and purpose built float must be safe to travel on; children should be seated or enclosed. They should be towed by an appropriately powered vehicle. Think about how the vehicle towing your trailer can also be incorporated into your theme.
4. Walking floats: Individuals in walking floats must be aged over 12 years unless accompanied by an adult. Your float should be choreographed to entertain the crowd. Imagine the parade is halted for a moment what can your group do to entertain the crowd while the parade isn’t moving? Consider having a safety vehicle at the head of your walking float, this will help set the pace for the group and ensure you don’t get too close to the floats in front.
COST:
A $25 entry fee is charged for each float organisation. This fee is non-refundable.
CANCELLATION:
If the weather on Saturday 9 December is too adverse the Parade will be cancelled. Adverse weather would be described as torrential rain and or high winds that would compromise safety. A decision on whether or not the parade will go ahead will be made at 10am on the day by the parade organisers.
If you are in doubt please contact Mainstreet after 10am on 022 306 8406 or visit Mainstreet Whanganui’s facebook page for a cancellation notice.
FLOAT AWARDS:
Enter a float and you could be rewarded! In order to encourage creativity and ingenuity in float entries Mainstreet will once again be awarding the best floats.
This year there will be three categories:
Best vehicle float $200.00
Best walking float $200.00
Best costumes $200.00
That means you could win for your organization/school or a charity of your choice so get your thinking caps on and get creative!
Float Rules
All floats must meet the following standards for both aesthetic, and health & safety reasons and abide by the following rules:
1.Your float must have some form of music, be it live or pre-recorded.
2. If applicable the sound system on your float must be of a quality that the music can be heard by the audience.
3. Your float presentation must be of a high standard and meet all the safety criteria outlined in this document. If your float does not meet minimum safety requirements your float will be denied entry into the parade.
4. Your float must be strongly Christmas themed that is communicated to the audience via dressing and construction, costume and music.
A corporate logo draping of sporadic tinsel or a team t-shirt will not be considered a theme and may not be able to participate.
5. Your float must not have a Santa on board. The Santa Float will be produced by the parade organisers.
6. No objects can be thrown/distributed from moving vehicles eg lollies/promotional material during the Christmas parade. These items can be distributed by members of your organisation who are walking along side your float 7. You must not encourage spectators to approach your float as it travels down the street.
8. All walking float participants should be over 12 years of age, if they are not they should be accompanied by an adult at all times.
9. Your float must have a driver with a current full drivers licence.
10. Your float vehicle must have a current warrant of fitness and registration.
11. Your group must provide two safety wardens for your float with at least high visibility day vests. One to walk in-front of your float and one to walk behind. The wardens’ job is to maintain a safe ‘walking’ speed for the floats and to keep an eye on all your float participants to ensure no-one is acting unsafely.
12. Float participants must obey the rules set out in the Traffic Management Plan (TMP) for the event approved by Whanganui District Council. Copies of the TMP will be provided prior to and on the day of the parade.
This event will operate under Covid 19 restrictions and guidelines according to the Ministry of Health. These guidelines and criteria have been set to ensure a safe parade for participants and spectators as well as an impressive spectacle the whole town can enjoy.
If you have any questions about any of the information contained in this document please don’t hesitate to call us on 348 0157.
Float types for your consideration
1. A truck: Truck floats must have an enclosed back with railing or a safety barrier if you intend to have people standing or dancing on the back. No articulated trucks will be allowed. Think about how you can dress your truck to fit in with a theme you have selected, what can attach to it to make it look less like a truck and more like a float? Can you enclose the cab of the truck to disguise it?
2. Open topped cars: All passengers in a car must comply with current road safety laws, all passengers must be wearing seat belts. All passengers should be dressed according to your theme. Think about what dressing you can add to your car to help it fit with your theme.
3. Trailer or Purpose built floats: A dressed trailer or self powered and purpose built float must be safe to travel on; children should be seated or enclosed. They should be towed by an appropriately powered vehicle. Think about how the vehicle towing your trailer can also be incorporated into your theme.
4. Walking floats: Individuals in walking floats must be aged over 12 years unless accompanied by an adult. Your float should be choreographed to entertain the crowd. Imagine the parade is halted for a moment what can your group do to entertain the crowd while the parade isn’t moving? Consider having a safety vehicle at the head of your walking float, this will help set the pace for the group and ensure you don’t get too close to the floats in front.
COST:
A $25 entry fee is charged for each float organisation. This fee is non-refundable.
CANCELLATION:
If the weather on Saturday 9 December is too adverse the Parade will be cancelled. Adverse weather would be described as torrential rain and or high winds that would compromise safety. A decision on whether or not the parade will go ahead will be made at 10am on the day by the parade organisers.
If you are in doubt please contact Mainstreet after 10am on 022 306 8406 or visit Mainstreet Whanganui’s facebook page for a cancellation notice.
FLOAT AWARDS:
Enter a float and you could be rewarded! In order to encourage creativity and ingenuity in float entries Mainstreet will once again be awarding the best floats.
This year there will be three categories:
Best vehicle float $200.00
Best walking float $200.00
Best costumes $200.00
That means you could win for your organization/school or a charity of your choice so get your thinking caps on and get creative!
Float Rules
All floats must meet the following standards for both aesthetic, and health & safety reasons and abide by the following rules:
1.Your float must have some form of music, be it live or pre-recorded.
2. If applicable the sound system on your float must be of a quality that the music can be heard by the audience.
3. Your float presentation must be of a high standard and meet all the safety criteria outlined in this document. If your float does not meet minimum safety requirements your float will be denied entry into the parade.
4. Your float must be strongly Christmas themed that is communicated to the audience via dressing and construction, costume and music.
A corporate logo draping of sporadic tinsel or a team t-shirt will not be considered a theme and may not be able to participate.
5. Your float must not have a Santa on board. The Santa Float will be produced by the parade organisers.
6. No objects can be thrown/distributed from moving vehicles eg lollies/promotional material during the Christmas parade. These items can be distributed by members of your organisation who are walking along side your float 7. You must not encourage spectators to approach your float as it travels down the street.
8. All walking float participants should be over 12 years of age, if they are not they should be accompanied by an adult at all times.
9. Your float must have a driver with a current full drivers licence.
10. Your float vehicle must have a current warrant of fitness and registration.
11. Your group must provide two safety wardens for your float with at least high visibility day vests. One to walk in-front of your float and one to walk behind. The wardens’ job is to maintain a safe ‘walking’ speed for the floats and to keep an eye on all your float participants to ensure no-one is acting unsafely.
12. Float participants must obey the rules set out in the Traffic Management Plan (TMP) for the event approved by Whanganui District Council. Copies of the TMP will be provided prior to and on the day of the parade.
