Stuart Christmas Parade

Welcome to the 2026 VNA Christmas Parade!

Thank you for your interest in participating as a Food Truck Vendor in the 2026 VNA Christmas Parade. Your participation helps us create the magical holiday experience that thousands of spectators and families look forward to each year.

Application & Approval Process

Submitting a registration does not guarantee acceptance into the parade. Because vendor space is limited, all food truck applications will be reviewed by the parade organizers. Vendors must meet all event requirements and be approved before they are accepted to participate.

The food truck registration fee is $100. The fee will only be collected if your application is approved. Once a vendor has been approved and the $100 fee has been paid, the fee is nonrefundable, including if the vendor later cancels or is unable to participate.

Registration places your food truck into the review process only. Acceptance is based on available space, event needs, required documentation, compliance with City of Stuart and Stuart Fire Rescue requirements, menu variety, and other event considerations. Returning vendors may receive priority when possible, but participation in previous years does not guarantee acceptance.

Approved vendors will receive confirmation from the parade organizers. Please do not consider your registration complete or your participation confirmed until you have received an official approval notice.

Vendor Locations & Placement
All food truck locations and vendor spaces will be assigned by parade organizers. Specific locations cannot be guaranteed.

Please be aware that some vendor locations may need to be adjusted or moved based on crowd size, parade operations, emergency access, traffic control, or other public safety considerations. Final placement will be subject to the direction of the Stuart Police Department and parade officials.

We understand that location is important to our vendors and will make every reasonable accommodation possible while keeping the safety of our spectators, participants, and vendors our highest priority.

Required Documentation
Prior to final approval and placement, all food truck vendors are required to:

• Complete and receive approval for the required Stuart Fire Rescue inspection.
• Provide a current Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming the Stuart Christmas Parade and one for City of Stuart as required.
• Submit all required documentation 

Vendors will not receive final approval or placement until all required documentation has been received and approved.

Returning Vendors
We greatly appreciate the vendors who return year after year and help make the VNA Christmas Parade such a successful community tradition.

Priority placement will be given to returning vendors whenever possible; however, previous locations cannot be guaranteed or held. Changes to the parade route, public safety requirements, emergency access, and overall event layout may require adjustments from previous years.

Thank you again for being part of the 2026 VNA Christmas Parade. Your participation plays an important role in creating a fun, festive, and memorable evening for our community.

We appreciate your cooperation with the event requirements and look forward to working with you for another amazing Christmas Parade!

Approved Vendors will be notified within seven (7) days of receipt of completed application, payment, Public Food Service License, hood inspection, COI and menu.

We’ll see you at the parade! 

Parade Details

Registration Fees
Registration fees are based on the type of organization participating in the parade:

• Nonprofit Organization & Schools: $50
  • Proof of nonprofit status may be requested.
• Children’s Business: $75
• Standard Business: $250

Registration fees are non-refundable and must be paid at the time of registration.

Parade Registration & Vehicles
Each parade registration includes a maximum of two vehicles participating in the parade. Both vehicles must arrive together and be part of the same registered entry.

If your entry requires more than two vehicles, please contact the Parade Coordinator at 772.286.1844 prior to the event. Additional vehicles are not guaranteed and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on parade logistics, space, and safety considerations.

Certificate of Insurance Required

All parade participants are required to provide a current Certificate of Insurance (COI) prior to participating in the Stuart Christmas Parade.

The COI must include General Liability coverage and list the following as the Certificate Holder:

Stuart Christmas Parade, LLC.
2400 SE Monterey Rd., Suite 300
Stuart, FL 34996

Please upload a copy of your current COI during registration. 

2026 Parade Theme: Santa’s Stuart Vacation
This year, Santa is taking a vacation in Stuart! We want to see where Santa would go, what he would do, and how he would enjoy a little Florida sunshine.

Decorate your float to showcase a vacation destination or experience Santa would love, from boats and beaches to fishing, golfing, relaxing by the water, exploring Downtown Stuart, or anything else that captures Santa’s perfect Stuart vacation.

Important Santa Reminder:

To keep Santa’s appearance special for the parade, live Santas are not permitted on floats. You may, however, incorporate Santa sculptures, inflatables, figures, or other Santa-themed decorations into your float design.

New This Year: Santa’s Pick Award
Santa will be watching from the sidelines and choosing his favorite!

The Santa’s Pick Award will be presented to the float that best captures the “Santa’s Stuart Vacation” theme and delivers the best overall vacation vibes,  as chosen by Santa himself.

So get creative, have fun, and show us how Santa vacations in Stuart! 

Line Up
Parade Vehicle line-up is Northbound, between Ocean Blvd & Kingswood Terrace, on Monterey Road. Line-up starts at 4:30 PM. You can line up and make last minute adjustments to your float.  Remember, you need at least 1,000 lights and to be theme-decorated!

Drop Off
Walker/Marcher line-up and drop off is in Smithfield Plaza across from Fresh Market, it is recommended that drop off vehicles come from downtown via SE Ocean Blvd or from Indian Street to St. Lucie Blvd to avoid Monterey Road. Monterey Rd. will be CLOSED. Drop off begins at 5:30 PM and ends at 6:00 PM. Drop off has to be a quick process so that we can start the parade on time!

Disband
Floats and Vehicles all turn onto Georgia Ave, Disband volunteers will direct you; you may be directed to park on the bus lane or in one of the lots

Walkers and Marchers with bus transportation
Turn into Georgia and meet your bus in the first lot on the left

Walkers and Marchers, not using school buses, will be directed onto Georgia Ave. and may re-enter to watch the parade only via Stypmin Blvd to Flagler - or through Memorial Park. Due to safety constraints, involving the safe volume of people who can fit at the turn on Georgia Ave to SE Ocean Blvd, no one is permitted to walk back Georgia to Ocean.

Judging
Judging will take place during the parade in front of the Grandstand, located just east of Hospital Road.

Bands and performers may stop in front of the Judges' Grandstand for 45 seconds.

Announcing Awards
Awards will be announced immediately following the parade, online. The People's Choice Award for Favorite Float will be announced the Monday after the parade. Please check our Facebook pages and/or websites for winning floats and bands!

www.facebook.com/StuartChristmasParade
www.stuartchristmasparade.com
www.vnaflorida.org

Trophies will be available for pickup at the VNA office on Tuesday, December 8th, between 8 AM-5 PM.

Visiting Nurse Association of Florida
2400 SE Monterey Rd., Suite 300
Stuart, FL 34996

Awards will be announced immediately following the parade, online. The People's Choice Award for Favorite Float will be announced the Monday after the parade. Please check our Facebook pages and/or websites for winning floats and bands!

www.facebook.com/StuartChristmasParade
www.stuartchristmasparade.com
www.vnaflorida.org

Trophies will be available for pickup at the VNA office on Tuesday, December 8th, between 8 AM-5 PM.

Visiting Nurse Association of Florida
2400 SE Monterey Rd., Suite 300
Stuart, FL 34996

Parent/Child Meeting Post
The Parent/Child Meeting Post will be located at the Stuart Bandshell on East Ocean Boulevard, parallel to Stuart Middle School. All children who stray from their parent or group will be safely escorted to the Bandshell to wait for their party to pick them up.