2026 Waimea Light Parade Entry Application - Disney & Co.

Join the Waimea Light Parade, presented by the Historic Waimea Theater & Cultural Arts Center! Businesses, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and families are invited to celebrate the season with festive, illuminated parade entries.

This year’s parade theme is Disney & Co.! Bring the magic to Waimea with festive, illuminated entries inspired by your favorite Disney characters and stories. Entries may include floats, vehicles, marching groups, walking groups, and performance units. All entries must include lights and be appropriate for young children and families.

Please complete the application with your contact information, entry details, and a short description of your group or display. Review the rules and participation agreement below before submitting. Applications are subject to review and approval by the parade committee.

Staging instructions will be emailed approximately one week before the parade.

GENERAL RULES AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

1. This year’s parade theme is Disney & Co.. All entries must showcase a Christmas or holiday theme and are encouraged to incorporate this year’s theme. Lights must be used on all entries, including the tow vehicle unless it is blacked out.
2. Only one live or real-looking Santa is permitted in the parade, reserved for the first approved application requesting Santa. Artificial or inflatable Santa decorations are permitted on other entries.
3. Applications must be complete, and the required entry fee must be paid by the published deadline. Entry fees help cover insurance costs.
4. Participants must follow the staging, check-in, and arrival instructions provided by the parade committee.
5. Maintain 25 feet of spacing between entries. All entries must be able to travel at least 2 miles per hour, or approximately 120–150 steps per minute.
6. Performance stops are limited to 30 seconds and are permitted only at the designated locations: Waimea Theater, Waimea Library, Waimea Fire Station, and Ishihara Market.
7. Nothing may be thrown, tossed, or launched from an entry into the crowd. Walkers age 12 and older may hand items directly to spectators along the parade route.
8. All float vehicles must return to the staging area after the parade. No float vehicles may remain at Hofgaard.
9. Drugs, alcohol, and smoking are prohibited during staging and the parade.
10. Participants must remove their rubbish and belongings. Nothing may be left in the staging area or along the parade route.
11. Entries with children under age 12 must provide at least one adult chaperone for every 10 children.

FLOAT REQUIREMENTS

1. Floats may not exceed 12 feet in height or 10 feet in width. There is no maximum length, including the tow vehicle, but the entry must be able to make 90-degree turns without backing up.
2. Each float must carry a UL-approved fire extinguisher rated 2A-10BC, purchased or serviced within the past year and within reach of the driver.
3. Maintain at least 12 inches of clearance between any part of a generator and lights or combustible materials. Never refuel a generator while it is operating or still hot.

MARCHING, WALKING, AND PERFORMANCE UNITS

1. All unit members must wear lights on their uniforms or attire.
2. Performances must not exceed 30 seconds.
3. Walking participants must be at least 8 years old. Younger children should ride in wagons or strollers.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY STANDARDS AND HOLIDAY THEME

The Waimea Light Parade is a family-friendly community event open to the public. All entries must reflect a cheerful, welcoming Christmas or holiday theme suitable for young children and families. Floats, decorations, signs, costumes, music, performances, and participant behavior must be appropriate for audiences of all ages.

Characters, costumes, decorations, or performances that are frightening, disturbing, or otherwise inappropriate for young children and a family audience are not permitted.

Profanity, obscene or sexually explicit content, hateful or discriminatory messages, and displays or behavior that promote violence or illegal activity are prohibited.

Applicants must disclose all planned characters, costumes, and major display elements in their application. The parade committee may request photos or sketches before approving an entry. Any changes to an approved entry must be submitted to the committee for approval before the parade.

RIGHT TO REFUSE OR REMOVE AN ENTRY

The Historic Waimea Theater & Cultural Arts Center and the Waimea Light Parade Committee reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to reject any application, require changes to an entry, or remove any entry before or during the parade if it is deemed inappropriate for a family audience, unsafe, or inconsistent with parade rules.

Prior approval does not exempt an entry from these requirements. All decisions by the parade committee are final.

PHOTO AND VIDEO CONSENT

The undersigned agrees that all participants may be photographed or videotaped and that these images may be published in an outlet used to promote or publicize the event or the Historic Waimea Theater and Cultural Center (hereinafter referred to as Waimea Theater).

LIABILITY WAIVER AND RULES AGREEMENT

By submitting my entry for the Waimea Light Parade, I hereby, for myself, my child and all participants of my entry, my heirs, executors and administrators, waive and release any and all rights and claims for damages I, my child, or entry participants may have against Waimea Theater, its representatives, successors, assigns, all sponsoring organizations and their officers, directors, employees and agents from and against all liabilities whatsoever arising out of its participation in the Waimea Light Parade, for any and all injuries suffered by myself or my child or entry participants at any activity associated with the Waimea Light Parade.

I have read in its entirety the general rules and the entry guidelines for participating in the Waimea Light Parade and agree to accept full responsibility for the compliance of this entry and all participants associated therewith, and for any liability inherent with this entry’s participation in the Parade. I understand that if I fail to comply with all the guidelines and rules for participation that my entry will be removed from the parade lineup.