2026 Parade Application

For many years, our parade has thrived thanks to the enthusiasm and support of our participants. This year, to ensure that we can continue delivering a safe and high-quality event, we are introducing a small entry fee for business and organization parade participants.

This fee will help cover essential costs such as security and logistics, ensuring the parade’s sustainability and success. We appreciate your understanding and continued support in making this event a highlight of our community.

Day of the Parade:

Saturday Feb. 21, 2026

Check in & Line Up: 8:00 AM

Parade Start: 10:00 AM

Information:

The Parade Route will begin at the foot of the bridge on Bridge street (Hwy 29) and end on South Bridge Street in front of the Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Bridge Street and portions of Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 8:00 am, entries can begin arriving at this time. Please enter the parade route from Main Street. Parade representatives will be along the route with location information. You MUST be in your assigned spot by 9:30 am.

Those entries that arrive later will automatically forfeit their assigned position and will be added to the end of the parade if space is still available, in front of the horses. 

NO POLITICAL candidates or advertisements will be permitted in the parade.

Judging Guidelines: When constructing floats for judging, please be aware entries are judged base on Impression, Theme, Effects and the use of Palm Fronds. 

REMEMBER- this is the Swamp Cabbage Festival, the more fronds, the better. Please be mindful of public and private property. (Palm fronds should only be taken with the owner’s permission).

Use of Theme Entries should be related to the Festival’s theme. The 2025 theme is Planes, Trains and Automobiles! Entries shall be respectful and tasteful. No lewd writing or lewd music will be allowed in the parade.

Entries to be judged MUST display their (provided) number clearly at the front, left side area of your group/float for judges to view.  upon arrival, please check-in with parade staff for your number and spot information prior to assigned time.

NOTICE: By submitting this entry application, does not guarantee acceptance into the parade.  All applications will be reviewed, and participants will be selected based on various factors, including but not limited to theme alignment, creativity, and available space.  Thank you for your understanding.

Swamp Cabbage Festival Parade Rules & Regulations:

FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL OF ANY ENTRY FROM THE FESTIVAL PARADE, ASSOCIATED EVENTS , AND/OR RESULT IN DENIAL OF FUTURE ENTRY.

Cooperation. LaBelle is known for its friendliness. Swamp Cabbage Festival (SCF) began as a hometown festival that grew to host extended family and visitors from all over. We appreciate and expect the same spirit of cooperation in return. Any entry that does not cooperate or follow our rules will have to leave and may not be allowed in future festivals. SCF Committee reserves the right to cancel, refuse, or reject any parade entry from participation.

When You Arrive:

1. Numbers will be painted on the side of the street coinciding with parade entry numbers.

2. After check-in and once you have found your position, please move your entry to the side of the street immediately, DO NOT BLOCK the rest of the street. Parade officials and others entries will use the rest of the street to move along the line up area.

3. Please make sure ALL participants in your entry have read the parade rules & policies.

4. Please make sure your entry number is visible on the front, left side of your entry.

During the Parade:

1. A staff member will signal your entry into the parade procession.

2. Once you have entered the parade, keep a safe car length between you and the entry in front of you. Do not tailgate and do not stop unless directed by parade or emergency vehicles.

3. General traffic will not be permitted on the parade line-up area anytime between 8:30 am and 30 minutes after the completion of the parade.

4. Please do not remove roadblocks or other traffic control devices along the parade route. If a parade official permits the moving of the roadblock, please make sure it is put back where it was.

5. Please be extremely careful of pedestrians and other parade units while moving along the parade route.

6. Parade officials will be equipped with communication devices in case of emergencies.

7. Candy and hand out items are encouraged in the parade; however, it is not allowed to be
thrown from a moving entry. Please use good judgment when handing out these materials to
avoid parade watchers entering the parade area and moving parade entries.

8. If your entry includes animals: At no point, are you permitted to allow the public to interact
with your animal. All animals must be kept within the parade route. If you violate this rule, you
will not be asked to participate in the parade the following year.

9. Judging- Floats and other entries will have the opportunity to compete for trophies.
The judging stand will be highly visible due to an elevated stage and banners in front of the
Synovus Bank.

After the Parade:

1. Please exit the parade route via E. Lincoln Ave or Cowboy Way.

2. Do not block any side street with your entry.

3. Do not attempt to enter the park with the entry unless you have made prior arrangements with Shellie Lowe-Hunter or Heath Daniels.

4. Please be very careful of pedestrians and other entries leaving the parade route as traffic will be quite heavy during this time.

Rules for “Free Roaming Entries:”

A free roaming entry is an entry that is not physically confined to a shape or size.  This could be a group of walkers, an entry made of of several golf carts, or any entry made of many individual parts.

1. Do not interfere with the movement of floats or other entries such as cars, swamp buggies, etc.

2. Parade staff, pedestrians, police, and walking units have the right-of-way at all times.

3. Limit your speed to 5-10 mph when on parade route unless told otherwise by a parade official.

4. Do not traverse the center of the street before or after the parade. The center is reserved for float and parade staff only.

Other Helpful Information:

1. All SCF staff are equipped with communication equipment for emergency needs.

2. All parade staff will have a copy of the parade line-up and rules.