The Williamston Christmas Parade is a fun-filled event for hundreds of participants and spectators.  Parade instructions and rules are designed to remind participants that sometimes even the most innocent actions can provoke significant problems in a crowded area.  The rules are in place to ensure that we have an orderly, safe and joyful parade.  Please communicate these rules to all members of your parade entry.

Please communicate these rules to everyone in your group. Failure to comply with these rules and/or instructions from parade officials could result in removal from the parade line-up this year and future years. 

• There is only one Santa allowed in the parade, provided by the Town of Williamston.

• Do not “hold places” for other participants.  Once you enter the E.J. Hayes School parking lot, you are next in line.  If you want to stay in your group, be certain to enter the parking lot as a group at the designated entrance to the rear of the parking area.

• All hands and feet must be kept inside vehicles and floats at all times and everyone must remain seated.  Floats must come to a complete stop before participants disembark.  Absolutely no one may jump from a float in motion.

• Do not leave the parade line-up until your unit has completed the parade in the designated area.

• The maximum number of riders on any float is 20 (total number of adults and children).

• No tractor-trailers allowed.  Participants driving ATVs or motorcycles must wear a helmet.  

• Adult supervision for all children under the age of 14 is required at all times in the staging area and during the parade, in addition to the driver of the vehicle.  Parade volunteers coordinate this event and are not responsible for children.

• Any automobile, truck, or motorcycle that drives in an unsafe manner, including spinning tires and/or doing burn-outs, will be told to leave the parade and will not be invited back to future parades.

• All motorized vehicles and anything being towed by a motorized vehicle must be insured and must be driven by a licensed and insured driver.

• CANDY MAY NOT BE THROWN TO THE PUBLIC AT ANY TIME!  Such action can harm those watching the parade and provide an unnecessary danger to children who can be run over by parade vehicles while trying to collect candy. To distribute candy you must have someone walk along the parade route and give the candy out by hand.

• All teams, troops, and tribes must wear their uniforms or matching attire and carry a sign that identifies the group.

• FESTIVE ATTIRE IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED for all parade participants including parents and chaperones.

• In order to prevent gaps in the parade, participants must continue moving forward.  Bands and performing groups may stop and perform as pre-arranged with their Directors.

• Entrants are required to ensure all entrant messaging is in keeping with an inclusive, family friendly, holiday atmosphere.  In keeping with its policy of nondiscrimination, The Town of Williamston does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, sex, including sexual orientation, color, national origin, religion, marital or familiar status, age and therefore reserves the right to admit, or exclude, any entrant in its sole determination.  

• The Williamston Christmas Parade is a rain or shine event.  Please have appropriate weather related provisions.

• All entrants, or the authorized representative for a group or business, must register and accept the "Claim Waiver" before you will be allowed to participate. Proof of entry is REQUIRED before you are allowed in the parade line-up.  The safety, liability and operation of your float, entry, automobile, group or organization is your sole responsibility.

• ALL MUSIC MUST BE CHRISTMAS MUSIC UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROVED BY THE PARADE COMMITTEE.