Rules & Regulations

1. Parade route: The parade will begin at the Main Street bridge, with the parade continuing south down Main Street and ending at Oak Ave.
   
2. The 2025 Christmas parade theme: “Sweet treats on Main Street – a Candy Christmas!”
3. Parade weather and cancellation: Should heavy rain and/or ice cause the need for the parade to be cancelled, updates will be made to the parade social media account (can be found by searching “Jonesboro Christmas Parade”). If the weather outlook is uncertain, please keep an eye on the above listed page. Some decisions will have to be made at the last minute.
   
4. Parade entry categories:
   
   • Floats: If you have a vehicle larger than a pickup truck (box truck, 18-wheeler, etc), or you have a trailer connected to a vehicle, this is considered a float.
     
     1. ATVs are allowed to pull floats.
   • Walking unit: Any participant that is on foot during the entire parade. (This includes marching bands.)

1. • 1. A walking unit is a group of people (including pets) that walk as a group as part of the parade. All pets must be on a leash and have a completed animal application prior to event date (see animal application link). Walking groups should remain in-line with the parade floats and not spread out or disperse across the street or cross in front of floats.

1. • Non-Profit Organizations: Any organization classified as a non-profit organization should be willing to provide proof of non-profit status from the Arkansas Secretary of State to parade officials.
   • Pageant Queen/King Single Vehicle: You are allowed to have more than one title holder per vehicle.
   • Media Outlets Covering the Event: We welcome our media friends! If you are NOT covering the event but plan to feature a parade participant, please make sure to provide payment for your float/vehicle/unit/etc.
   • Auto and ATVs: FIVE CAR MAX, please. This includes vehicles, side-by-sides, four-wheelers, and the like.

1. • 1. ATVs are not allowed to drive outside the parade route before, during, or after the parade unless it is to offload before the parade for line up or load up after the parade is completed. ATVs that do not follow these guidelines before, during, or after the parade will not be permitted.
2. Receipt of application: does not guarantee acceptance into the parade. Applicants will be notified via e-mail if their unit is not accepted.
3. THERE IS NO LATE REGISTRATION! Registration ends November 28^th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
4. Loading Zones and Entry Numbers: The week of the parade, you will receive an e-mail with the parade instructions AND your entry number. Please make sure your entry number is prominently displayed PRIOR TO PARADE BEGINNING and shown to parade officials/city police to enter your parade loading zone.

*For walking units, a representative from your group will need to know your entry number to relay to parade officials.

Your email will include a parade map with YOUR designated loading zone; you will only receive YOUR location, not the location of other participants. Please do not drive around the parade route and surrounding areas; please only drive to YOUR designated loading zone.

THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PARADE LINE-UP; the order of the parade is determined by when you arrive and file in at your loading zone. Everyone must arrive by 6:30 p.m.

Parade rules:

Theme: All units must reflect a holiday theme, or the theme chosen by the parade committee. Units must not be predominantly commercial or political in nature.

Eligibility for awards

(Awards will be announced on the parade’s social media page the weekend after the parade.)

• Best float award: To be eligible for this award, parade entries must follow the parade theme. Judges are anonymous members of the community.
  
• Best band award: To be eligible for this award, bands must pre-register before the registration period closes. Performers will have 60 seconds of performance time. Performances will take place in the performance zone only! No allowances will be made to stop and make other performances during the parade. Any performance outside of the described area will result in disqualification.
• Best dance performance: To be eligible for this award, groups must be registered prior to the parade entry deadline. Performances must be done at the designated performance zone. Entrants will have 60 seconds of performance time. Any performance outside of the described area will result in disqualification.
• Best overall performance: To be eligible for this award, participants must be registered before the entry deadline. Performers must adhere to all the 2025 rules and regulations. Entrants will have 60 seconds of performance time.
  

Code of conduct: The Jonesboro Christmas Parade is a family-friendly, diverse, and inclusive event for all ages, and every unit in the parade is expected to respect this. All costumes, outfits, behavior, attitude, language, music, imagery, signage, props, videos, and dance moves must be appropriate and will be held to a high standard. Any float, costume, and/or uniform deemed inappropriate or too revealing by the committee will be strictly forbidden. Violation of the dress code and determined by the committee during final inspection may result in immediate removal from the parade and loss of registration fee. Parade Committee members may remove any participant or entry throughout the entirety of the parade. Jonesboro Police Department may remove any participant from the parade (before or during) for inappropriate, unsafe, destructive, or lewd behavior. Examples of inappropriate attire or behavior include, but are not limited to, nudity, undergarments showing, foul language, suggestive dance moves, and suggestive or inappropriate music lyrics. Failure to comply may result in being asked to leave the parade immediately with no warning and may jeopardize a group’s participation in future parades. All decisions are at the discretion of the parade officials and/or police department. If you have not pre-registered for the parade, you will not be allowed to participate the night of the event.

Costuming, props, and music:

THERE IS ONLY ONE SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS.

We realize the theme of Christmas movies may present a challenge for costumes, as many Christmas movies depict Santa and Mrs. Clause in their title and plot. Please use the likeness of (not an exact replica) of Santa and Mrs. Clause in your design and costumes. Santa and Mrs. Clause and their sleigh will be positioned at the very end of the parade as the last float. If you intend to feature a version of Santa and/or Mrs. Clause, please submit a photo of the concept to the parade committee ([email protected]) by November 28th at 5:00 pm. Festive costumes with bright colors draw attention and are encouraged if they comply with the code of conduct. If there is music on a float, it must be kept at a volume level which will not detract from adjacent units. Music must be holiday themed and comply with the code of conduct.

Throwing items: Nothing of any sort, including candy, toys, leaflets, etc.) are to be thrown to spectators. Participants may walk along their float and distribute items. Violations of this rule may result in removal of the unit from the parade, and a possible ban from participation the next year. Please note, this is a safety rule, not only for participants but also for spectators. There is a limit of two walkers per side for each float.

Animals in the parade: Per Jonesboro city ordinance and to show respect to the other parade partners, parade entries with animals of any kind shall provide immediate, on-the-move cleanup of animal waste during the parade and while in the lineup/disbanding area. Entrants must provide and show proof of proper waste removal materials. i.e., waste bags of any kind. If cleanup is not provided by the registered parade participant, a fee will be assessed to the registered parade participant by the parade committee and future entry in the Jonesboro Christmas Parade will be under advisement. Participants must also complete an application with the city of Jonesboro and present the proper documentation and insurance for animals featured in the parade.

Additional Vehicles: Vehicles will not be provided by the parade. No other vehicles may accompany units unless they are authorized by the parade officials prior to Parade Day.

Disband Area: It is your responsibility to arrange pick-up of all floats, riders, band members, etc. Waking units, marching bands, etc may be picked up at the end of the parade in the parking lot behind Cardiology Associates (201 E. Oak Ave.) by Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

All parade participants are responsible for their own vehicles and equipment. The parade committee is not responsible for any damage to property, equipment or vehicle damage, injury to person during the pre-parade staging, parade, and post parade events.