THE "ELECTRIC" INDEX

(*the parade is a rain or shine event)

Fast Facts on the Electric Light Parade

 

 

 

 

The parade route will be approximately two miles long. The parade will begin at Central Avenue at Montebello. It will head south on Central to Camelback Road, where it will turn east to 7th Street, where it will turn south to its end point at Indian School Road. All units will stage in the North Phoenix Baptist Church parking lot.

	City of Phoenix entries No charge Community Entries $75 Nonprofit Organizations $100 Government Entries $100 Commercial Entries    Businesses with:       fewer than 25 employees (small business)      25 or more employees (large business)   $300 $400 Performance Unit (limited to 100 participants) $100

*Make all checks payable to the city of Phoenix.
Refund requests must be presented in writing.
Partial refunds (80 percent) will be issued until Nov. 16, 2009 .
There are no refunds after November 16, 2009.

Originality- Creativity, quality and uniqueness of decoration

Quality- Workmanship on entry

Theme- Recognition of display of parade theme

Overall- General appearance, eye appeal and music

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Catagories of Participation

Junior High - High School - College Marching BANDS

• To perform in the parade, all band members and their instruments must be lit by light products.

• The first four Bands registered will receive a $200 honorarium. Honorariums are mailed to the band director two weeks following the parade, provided Band Leaders turn in the proper paperwork.

• The minimum number of lights on a band member is 96, or eight battery packs of light. Glow products or LED may substitute for the electric lights on either/or both the band member and their instrument (15-22" or longer glow products or combination of glow product to satisfy the detail). Bands not meeting lighting requirements will not be allowed to participate in the parade.

• All bands are requested to play holiday music the entire 2 mile parade route.

• Hand held accessories: headpieces, instruments, etc., must be outlined or accented with lights or glow products. It is advisable to limit the weight on each lit uniform/instrument to 30 pounds.

• Each marching band will be limited to 150 participants in the parade. Bands must be able to proceed on the route utilizing approximately 30' in width.

• The maximum chaperone ratio for marching bands is 1:30 (adult/children). All chaperones are required to dress in unit uniform, if available or dress in all black.

• Uniforms that cover the head are required to have a breathing/communication space.

• For optimum lighting, it is suggested that lights be placed one to two inches apart. (Light reflectors are suggested for better illumination).

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• Community Entries - are built by an individual, family or neighborhood group. Motorcycle and car groups fall into this category. Community entries may not advertise sponsor, corporate names or other catagory included category names. Signage shall reflect only the name of the entering group or individual.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ENTRY

• Proof of non-profit status must be submitted with your parade application.
  
  Nonprofit Organization Entries will be supported and constructed by a service organization, a 501-C3 organization, or any nonprofit organization. However, a sponsor's name can't be on the float.

GOVERNMENT ENTRY

• A government entry will be supported and constructed by a government agency. This includes schools, federal, state and local agencies.

• Commercial Entries may be sponsored by either large or small businesses. Entry fees are charged or figured by total number of employees within the entire company.

• Walking Groups (I.E./ Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts/Twirling Groups/Drill Teams) Limited to the first ten entries.

• In order to keep the parade moving smoothly, entries will not be permitted to stop or perform reverse marches, or stunts on the parade route. These activities cause gaps in the parade.
  

• Only UL approved wiring, lights and batteries may be used. Each individual must have a minimum of eight sets of battery powered lights or 96 lights. A total of fifteen 22” glow products or equivalent shaped products may be substituted for minimum number of battery powered lights.

• For optimum lighting, it is suggested that lights be placed one to two inches apart (Light reflectors are suggested for better illumination).

• All batteries, battery packs and wires must be concealed within the costume or attached to the individual in an organized pattern.

• All major construction points and lines should be outlined in lights to highlight the shape of the costume.

• Hand-held accessories, headpieces, or instruments, etc. must be outlined or accented with lights.
  

• The chaperone ratio for walking groups is 1:30 (adult/children). Chaperones are part of the group, and are required to dress in unit uniform, costume or total black. (This will be strictly enforced).
  

• Performance groups will be limited to 100 participants in the parade.
  

• Contact person filling out the application will be responsible for signing an agreement specifying that all participants are 8 years old and older. Children under 8 years old without proper proof will be pulled from the parade.
  

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• All first-time participants are advised to attend the scheduled informational meeting on Oct. 21, 2009, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Devonshire Senior Center, 2802 E. Devonshire.
  
  
• Special Events Office must receive proof of vehicular insurance by Nov. 16, 2009 for any motor vehicle being driven on the route.
  
  
• All drivers must participate in the entry drivers' orientation on December 4, 2009, at 6:30 p.m.
  
  
• The minimum number of liughts onh a floatg are 2,000. LED's, Neon and Glow products are also acceptable.
  
  
• All tow vehicles must be lit if it is part of the entry. Otherwise it should be blacked out. Minimum number of lights is 2,000. This is in addition to the entry requirement of 2,000 lights.
  
  
• Anyone riding on a float must be attached to the float by a seatbelt-type strap with quick release mechanism.
  
  
• Anyone riding on an entry or walking alongside an entry is required to wear 96 lights or 15 pieces of 22" glow lights or equivalent light shapes. (LEDs, Neon, etc.)
  
  
• Each entry will be required to have signage in lights on the front or on both sides with the name of the entry or sponsoring group (i.e.; Dolan family, Express Scripts.)
  
  
• All entries are required to play float theme or holiday music throughout the parade route.
  
  
• Only children 8 years of age and older will be permitted to march or walk in the parade.
  
  
• You must correctly include your towable generator size or the size of unit it will ride on in your application. Your generator size must be included on the application.
  
  
• Fire and flammable props are prohibited.
  
  
• The use of spotlights and interior lit inflatables are okay to use as long as the entry also has met the rule regarding the minimum number of lights.
  
  
• Children under the age of 8 are permitted to ride on or in a unit provided all regulatory seat belts and car seat laws are followed.
  
  
• Please, for the safety of your child, no strollers allowed.
  
  
• Entries can not exceed 13 feet six inches in height due to overhead wires. There is no limit on length of a float entry. If an entry is wider than 8 feet, a transporting permit may need to be obtained and preapproval is required from parade producer.
  
  
• All entry materials must be flame-retardant.
  
  
• All wiring must be properly secured to prevent mechanical damage and injury to float riders.
  
  
• All connections must be made with UL-approved electrical boxes or devices.
  
  
• Portable generators or compressors used on the float must be securely mounted on a vehicle or other substantial base. A minimum of 12 inches clearance must separate any part of the generator/compressor from combustible fabrication material.
  
  
• Generators/compressors must be equipped with firmly attached exhaust systems that terminate either into a common exhaust serving the vehicle or in the same manner as vehicle exhaust.
  
  
• The use of public address systems for broadcasting messages is prohibited.
  
  
• All entries will be subject to inspection by the Phoenix Police and Fire departments. All entries will be inspected to ensure adequate and safe lighting before the parade.
  
  
• Religious expression is allowed, but proselytizing is prohibited. Please be sensitive to the faiths of others.
  
  
• All equestrian units must be bagged or unit must provide person to pick up waste along the route.
  
  
• The driver must have an unobstructed view of the road.
  
  
• All drivers must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license and be adequately trained to drive their assigned entries.
  
  
• A minimum of one 2A10BC-type fire extinguisher must be provided on each entry or unit. If an individual is in an enclosed entry, there should be one extinguisher inside and another extinguisher outside.
  
  
• A limited number of participants will be able to ride on any entry. City personnel reserve the right to determine the number for safety considerations.
  
  
• Any person, who is part of the entry, MUST be in costume, lit and part of the entry theme. A maximum of ten walkers may accompany an entry.
  
  
• Entries not abiding by the requirements will be pulled the evening of the event by parade organizers.
  
  
• Once an entry has won a prize or award, that same entry will not be eligible to win again.
  
  
• All entries are required to provide a person to walk and carry an entry number for indentification before the television spotters and the judges. This person must be dressed in black (black pants, black shirt, black shoes). If the entry does not have a walking marshal the night of the parade, that unit or group will be pulled.
  
  
• Walking marshals are required to be over the age of 16 and walk approximately ten feet in front of the entry.
  
  
• All entries must be able to travel at a speed of at least two miles per hour for two miles.
  
  
• The Electric Light Parade has only one live Santa Claus. The jolly old fellow will be appearing courtesy of the Special Events team. Mrs. Claus is staying at home at the North Pole.
  
  
• No alcoholic beverages of any kind will be allowed in the staging area or on the float or parade unit. Consumption of alcohol by any individual will result in immediate removal from the event.
  
  
• For the safety of our spectators absolutely nothing is to be thrown from an entry or handed to the crowd on the parade route.
  

• There will be no stopping along the parade route unless directed as such by a staff member. This is to avoid gaps in the parade.
  
  
• Failure by a participant or parents of participants to obey any police officer or parade official will be cause for that entry to be removed from the parade.
  
  
• At Indian School Road and 7th Street, the completion of the parade, all entries are requested to turn off their holiday lights and music as soon as possible. This helps signal the end of the parade.
  
  
• All tow vehicles or entries need to turn off or cover their headlights.
  
  
• Unless you are a commercial entry, you must cover any commercial logos/names on your tow vehicle.
  

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Informational Workshop
for first time parade participants

DATE:

Pre-Parade Meeting

DATE:

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

LOCATION:

DATE:

Friday, December 4, 2009

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Performance entries,
Marching Bands, Judges
Award and the Spirit Award
will be judged during
the parade, Saturday,
December 5, 2009

 

or

Entries will begin to move into parade
line up formation
at 5:30 p.m. on December 5, 2009

We ask that all applications and payments be received on or before 5 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 200 West Washington, 16th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003

To check the receipt of your application, make a change on your application or ask any questions concerning your application, call 602 261-8069