This year’s Parade is Thursday, May 29th

2025 Parade Guidelines

Our Mission is to provide entertainment, broadly defined, or enhance community awareness of those many causes, activities and quirks that are part of the Ithaca community and do this safely with over 2,000 participants in the Parade.

Selection Criteria: We invite all members of the Ithaca community to participate in this, the largest single arts event in the city. The number of applicants often exceeds the number of groups we can safely accommodate in the staging area and also keep the duration under two hours.

Only groups that fulfill the entertain or enhance community awareness will be accepted. The latter can be done using banners, signs, songs, etc., and should positively advocate causes and issues. We do not allow signs or other activities that endorse political candidates or parties, that denigrate other persons or viewpoints, or that in the opinion of Parade organizers are designed to gather attention through negative reaction.

We encourage you to incorporate our theme, Coming soon in your presentation. Acceptances are sent out on a rolling basis based on the criteria listed above. Registration fees will be refunded to any applicant that we are unable to accept.

Vehicles: Groups are limited to ONE motorized vehicle (excluding small carts) unless approved otherwise by the organizers. All vehicles and trailers attached to vehicles must be legally registered and licensed, unless you obtain a specific waiver from the Ithaca Police Department.

Registration and Fees are $45 for not-for-profit, community, or small business applicants, and $250 for others. These are waived for returning groups that have previously had the fees waived. Any applicant may request waiver or reduction of fees by contacting the Parade coordinators at ithacafestivalparade@gmail.com. All groups wishing to be in the Parade must register; the fee and waiver options are on the registration page.

Volunteers: Both the Parade and other aspects of Ithaca Festival rely upon community volunteers to assist with preparations and support. For the Parade these include preparing and placing No Parking signs and pre-Parade help with traffic barricades. The registration fees will be refunded (or waived in advance) for community and small business groups that provide a minimum of two volunteers.

Staging: All vehicles must be in place and parked BEFORE 5:10 pm at designated spots on Lewis, Jay and Cayuga Streets. Only vehicles that you have listed on your application are allowed within the staging area after 5:10 pm; and, there is no room to park extras. 

Nothing Can Be Tossed or Thrown from the Street. Candy and trinkets that fall on the streets attract children onto the street, often in front of floats, horses, cyclists, etc. It seems so harmless, but we’ve had several “near misses,” and you will be responsible for any injuries that result. Distributing candy, stickers, small trinkets, etc., - which we discourage but do not forbid - must be done only by adults walking beside the curb. Do NOT entrust this task to kids - they inevitably get distracted and this poses too great a risk.

No Advertisements or Paper Products. We do not permit distribution of advertising materials; your banners and signs along with the entertainment you provide are your advertisement.

Animals Groups with horses must include appropriate clean-up crews. If requested, we will provide an off-site location for unloading trailers. All dogs must be leashed; there is a lot of commotion all around, and animals can become alarmed.

Weather Alerts and Evacuations: The Ithaca Police monitor weather channels and make the determination of safe conditions. High winds or lightning are hazardous; rain alone is not. Every group should have a simple evacuation plan in the event the Parade is cancelled during staging or marching. This means that each adult is responsible for monitoring the children in their group and having a designated place to meet parents/guardians.

Driver’s Instructions. We often need to make last minute changes in staging sites or marching order. Please remind your drivers to stay with their vehicles and follow instructions given by the Parade staff. Groups should keep as close as safely possible to the group in front of them, as large gaps “invite” children to wander onto the streets.

Still have questions or concerns prior to applying? Please email our parade team here or IthacaFestivalParade@gmail.com