Marshall Parade Rules, Information, and Timeline

1. ALL entries MUST BE WELL LIT and be decorated for the holidays. This is a nighttime parade, so lights are necessary for the safety of parade attendees and participants as well as for their entertainment value. Headlights do not count toward lighting your vehicle. If your vehicle is not decorated and/or has only minimal lights, you will not be allowed to participate in the parade.

2. Marching bands, ALL walkers, performers, etc. MUST be in uniform, costume, or wear holiday-appropriate attire. Walkers should have lights or glow sticks on every person.

3. ALL FLOATS MUST BE JUDGED. Make sure to have 2 people available to carry your banner if you win!

4. All participants are required to keep pace with the parade marshal and keep spacing gaps to a minimum between groups/floats to ensure a smooth and continuous parade.

5. Santa is not allowed on any entry. There is only ONE Santa and he is found on the last float. No one else is allowed to dress as Santa and he is not to be depicted in any life-like decorations.

6. ABSOLUTELY NO CANDY CAN BE THROWN FROM VEHICLES. We ALL need to keep candy out of the center of the road, to keep people/children out of the way of parade vehicles. Candy is to be passed out by walking participants ONLY. To keep the parade moving quickly, candy should be “underhand tossed” BEHIND the barriers lining Michigan Avenue (where the parking spaces are locatede). VIOLATORS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE PARADE AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE PARADES.

7. Gun shots and cannons are not allowed. Live fire/flames are allowed only with special permission.

8. Any entry containing animals MUST include a clean-up crew or appropriate apparatus to eliminate waste being left in the road. No one wants to step in a mess!

9. Vehicles on trailers are not permitted without prior approval.

10. Parade is not lined-up in first-come, first-in-line fashion, instead music groups are spaced apart and animals are kept away from hot air balloon fire, little children are in front, etc. Annual entries are rotated as much as possible within the constraints.

Specific parade instructions and placements will be emailed the week prior to the parade, so keep watch on the email you enter on your form.

Parade Applications Due: November 11, 2025

Instructions emailed with placement and details Between November 17 - 21

PARADE: December 1, 2025

TIMELINE FOR PARADE NIGHT IS SUPER TIGHT! PLEASE SEE BELOW:

5:15-5:30 Volunteer meeting at the Choose Marshall Welcome Center for instructions, reflective gear and clipboards, and a pizza dinner

5:40 - 6pm FLOATS line-up

6pm ALL FLOATS must be in place with decorations set and lights working

6 - 6:30 Judges will evaluate all floats and declare winners by 6:30

6 - 6:30 All other entries line-up

6:30pm All Entries In Place

6:30-6:45 Float winners will receive their banners

7:00 SHARP Parade Begins

Around 9pm Parade ENDS in the area of the Marshall Middle School, please make arrangements to pick up walkers, etc in that vicinity.