Parade (for Businesses)
About the event
About the application
We’re inviting you to help us kick off a magical Suwanee Fest weekend with an unforgettable parade! This year’s theme is Fairytales, so gather your royal court, decorate a float fit for a storybook, dress like you’ve stepped straight out of a classic tale, and/or prepare a 60-second performance to compete for prizes!
The $250 fee associated with business participation in the parade will be used to fund cash prizes. These cash prizes are up for grabs in categories like Best Use of Theme, Most Entertaining, Best Costumes, and more! Don’t miss your chance to show off your creativity and claim your happily-ever-after title as a legendary parader!
- Please note that Suwanee Fest sponsors receive complimentary parade participation and will not be charged an additional fee.
To participate, one representative from your group must attend a mandatory meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Businesses without representation at this meeting will be removed from the parade lineup.
It’s going to be a storybook celebration for the ages!
Terms & Conditions
Suwanee Fest Parade Participation Policy – Approved July 15, 2021
Purpose The primary purposes of the Suwanee Fest parade is entertainment value and to highlight local community members, performers, and groups.
Types of entries permitted
Participation in the Suwanee Fest parade is considered a privilege and not guaranteed to any group or person. To help ensure that the parade meets the standards and purposes of the parade and the festival, all potential entrants are vetted. The Suwanee Fest parade encourages participation by locally-focused individuals, civic groups, school groups, entertainers, bands, orchestras, non-profit and charitable organizations, Suwanee Fest sponsors, and other such organizations. As the parade has a limited amount of space for staging and time allowances, the city may restrict the number of entries or participants. This is determined by the parade organizers based on the entries received and adherence to the purpose and requirements set forth herein. In order to maintain the entertainment value, to help keep the focus local, and to control the time and length of the parade, general political groups, political party-specific groups, and/or such advocacy or general movement groups are not permitted in the parade except as noted herein.
Local political candidate participation
While the city welcomes individual candidates for public office or present officeholders, in order to maintain the parade length and local focus, the city has established the following guidelines:
- Only candidates serving the City of Suwanee residents (i.e. whose potential voters reside within the Suwanee city limits), may participate in the parade provided:
- Candidates must be physically onsite and a festival participant. o Candidates must be running in the current year’s upcoming election cycle only.
- Political entries are limited to one vehicle (which may be a truck/trailer combo if the entry is a theme-decorated float). Up to 20 additional “walkers” may be part of the candidate’s entry.
- Candidate entries will be slotted into the parade line-up in alphabetical order, or similarly arranged by the parade organizers. (Except that the city of Suwanee councilmembers will be placed in their traditional location near the front of the parade)
- As noted above, non-local candidates, general social and political causes, and/or organizations may not participate.
Corporate and business entries
Non-sponsor corporate or business entries are permitted, but are limited to one vehicle and up to 20 walkers/participants. As with all entries, corporate entries are encouraged to utilize the theme in a float or costumes. Suwanee Fest sponsors, depending on their level of sponsorship, may be extended automatic entry into the parade and be granted priority.
General social and political activity
Political or social demonstrations (positive or negative) are not permitted. Except as otherwise noted for candidates, no individual or group may use the Suwanee Fest parade as a political platform or forum to distribute political materials, via audio or distribution, to express support or dissent of any political or social positions or issue. Provided, nothing herein shall prohibit any person from exercising their free speech rights on public property as long as such expression does not interfere with the Parade.
Use of theme
Each year, a theme is determined for the parade and overall festival atmosphere. We encourage all participants and groups to decorate a float, dress up to reflect the theme, and/or prepare a 30-60 second performance for a chance to win a prize. All entries will have the opportunity to stop at the judge’s station along the route to be recognized by the emcee, or to perform for the judges. Cash prizes are available to school and community groups, and officially recognized non-profit organizations for best use of theme, most entertaining, best costumes and other categories at the discretion of the judging panel.
Prices
| Business Parade Fee | $250.00 | A $250 fee is required for businesses to participate in the parade. This fee will be charged to the card we have on file after the mandatory parade meeting. Business fees collected will go towards performance prize money for all parade participants. |
Questions on the application
User information
- First name
- Last name
- Gender
- Birthday
- Address
Business information
- Business name
- Legal business name
- Contact name
- Address
- Phone
- Website (Optional)
- Logo (Optional)
Additional information
- I agree that the group I am registering will abide by all parade rules and regulations. These rules include agreeing not to throw anything along the route (including candy), adhering to assigned line-up space, drop off and pick up locations and times, quality and nature of entries, etc. Walkers are permitted to physically hand items, candy, giveaways, etc. to viewers along the route.
- To participate in the parade, I agree to send at least one representative to a mandatory meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 6:00pm. I acknowledge that if a representative is not present for this entire meeting, our group will be removed from the parade lineup and will not be able to participate
- Organizers are responsible for collecting their own participant waivers, permission forms, and for coordinating the drop off and pick up process for their participants so long as this adheres to the parade rules. Any group that does not abide by the Suwanee Fest Parade Committee rules will be asked to leave and may not be eligible to register for future parades.
- The representative who attends the mandatory meeting will be expected to communicate information such as line-up number, report time, pick-up instructions, etc. to their group.
- Description of Business
- Current mailing address (for prize money to be sent)
- Main phone number
- Type of Participant
- Years in Suwanee Fest Parade
- Number of Participants
- Number of minors
- Will a vehicle be used in the parade?
- If yes, how many vehicles and what type (truck, bus, car, SUV, etc...)?
- Parade line-up space is allocated in 10-ft sections along the curbside. Approximately how much space should be allocated for your organization?
- Describe what your business will be doing in the parade and/or for your 60 second performance for our judges.
