Farmington Founders Parade Application

Be part of the excitement at the Farmington Founders Festival Parade on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM along Grand River Avenue in Farmington, Michigan.

This popular community tradition brings together residents, families, and visitors to celebrate the spirit of Farmington.

Local businesses, organizations, community groups, teams, and performers are invited to apply to participate in the parade. Floats, walking groups, decorated vehicles, and creative entries are all welcome as we showcase the people and organizations that make our community special.

Join us in celebrating Farmington’s heritage while promoting your group and engaging with thousands of spectators who line Grand River Avenue for this festive event. Submit your application to be part of one of the highlights of the Farmington Founders Festival!

1. ACCEPTANCE OF ENTRIES: The Committee will review all entries and make a decision upon receipt. Acceptance is based on a first-come, first-served basis. A wait list will apply after 70 accepted entries are received. All entries MUST be fully decorated and/or costumed to reflect the year’s parade theme.  
 
2. ENTRY FORM DESCRIPTIONS: Please fill out this form in its entirety. All entries must conform to the description provided on the Parade application form. If your unit will have an element of sound, chanting, amplified music for a dance team, or singing by a choir, please describe it fully so that we do not place you near other units with competing sound. Any animals included in the unit must be listed and described on the entry form, along with clean up details.  
 
3. PARADE VEHICLES: All motorized vehicles in the Parade (cars, tractors, floats, motorcycles) must be driven by licensed, insured drivers. All vehicle and float drivers must present JAG Entertainment with proof of insurance and a copy of their driver’s license no later than three weeks prior to the parade date. Vehicles without valid copies submitted will be unable to participate. Parade groups must submit copies annually and cannot utilize copies submitted years prior. This is non negotiable.  
 
4. NO POLITICAL PROMOTION: JAG Entertainment and the City of Farmington does not endorse any political candidate or party. Elected officials are welcomed to apply and march in the parade to represent the office that they hold. Candidates can participate in the parade but cannot be the focus (in part or in whole) of any unit. Under no circumstances can any political information about any candidate or political issue be handed out or promoted/displayed as part of any unit.  
 
5. RULES/INSURANCE/HOLD HARMLESS: All units must return entry form with a signature accepting the rules and the Hold Harmless Agreement. Units with animals or vehicles may be required at the discretion of the Parade Chair to add Certificate of Additionally Insured. Entrants requiring certificates will be notified verbally or in writing.  
 
6. JUDGING: Judging will be done by the Mayors of Farmington and Farmington Hills. There will be two winners. One winner in the non-profit category and one winner in the commercial category. The winners will be notified at staging and will be given a banner. The placement of the banner will be at the discretion of the winning entrants. Banners must be taken directly to the Farmington Founders Festival Beer Tent directly following the parade. Failure to return the banner will result in the parade group being responsible for the cost of replacement.  
 
7. ANIMALS: All parade units with animals must be identified on the entry form and must make arrangements to clean up after the animal along the Parade route. The Parade reserves the right to remove from the Parade any animal which appears to be uncomfortable, unruly or in any way presenting an immediate or potential danger to other units or to spectators.  
 
8. FLOATS: ALL floats must be decorated with the theme of the Parade.  
 
9. WALKING GROUPS: Must be costumed in the theme of the parade or uniformed.  
 
10. PARADE ROUTE RULES: Candy, coupons, paper flyers, balloons, flags, bottles of water will be permitted to handout from Parade participants. DO NOT entice spectators to come on to the Parade route. Performances must keep pace with the parade flow. Keep a safe distance. DO NOT STOP TO PERFORM.  
 
11. STAGING AND PARKING: No parking will be permitted in the staging area. Your parade entry, float and parade walkers are allowed in the staging area. If your group requires participants to be dropped off, you will need to make arrangements so it will NOT affect staging operations.  
 
12. CONTROVERSIAL THEMES/ISSUES: The Farmington Founders Festival Parade is a family friendly event. No controversial themes or issues will be permitted in the parade. We reserve the right to remove any entry or ask to modify an entry at any time prior to or during the parade. If entry is too controversial, expulsion is possible. Decision by parade officials is final.  
 
13. EXPULSION: Expulsion from the Farmington Founders Festival Parade will result in the disqualification from award competition and automatic exclusion from participation in the next year’s parade.  
 
Your applicattion of this form is evidence that you agree to the Parade Rules and will abide by those rules and the decisions of the Parade Committee.  HOLD HARMLESS: To the fullest extent permitted by law, I/We agree(s) to defend, pay on behalf of, indemnify and hold harmless JAG Entertainment and the City of Farmington, its elected and appointed officials, employees and volunteers and others working on behalf of JAG Entertainment against any and all claims, demands, suits or loss, including all costs connected therewith, and for any damages which may be asserted, claimed or recovered against from JAG Entertainment, its elected and appointed officials, employees, and volunteers and others working on behalf of JAG Entertainment by reason of personal injury, including bodily injury or death and/or property damage, including loss of use thereof, or any other matter which arises out of or in any way connected or associated with the sale of goods and services during the Farmington Founders Parade for which a permit was issued.