Parades can be held for different occasions. It can be a special tradition, holiday, or just to honor someone in the community. Organizing a parade can be quite overwhelming, especially for those who lack experience in doing so. To get you started, here is a list of tips to help you pull this off.
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Don’t do everything on your own.
Create a parade committee comprised of people that you are comfortable working with. Not only will they help you finish the tasks on your to-do list, but they will also be able to provide new ideas that will improve the parade.
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Think about the details of the parade.
Before doing any major task, it’s important that you set a clear direction as to what you want to accomplish in the parade. Select a theme that your team is confident and comfortable enough to work with. Decide on how big of a crowd you are planning to manage. There are differences in preparing for a parade that will be done in a small neighborhood as compared to a whole town or city.
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Think carefully before choosing a date.
Parades can be held at any time of the year, but you still need to be strategic in choosing a date. Take note if there are any competing activities that will take place on the date you want. This will ensure that you’ll get a good attendance for the parade.
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Accomplish the required paperwork on time.
You’ll be able to accomplish tasks easier knowing that you already have the necessary paperwork and compliant with regulations. Consult local officials about possible issues you might encounter during the planning and implementation process.
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Charge an entry fee.
An entry fee is needed to help you cover the expected expenses for the parade. Participants from public schools or government offices may be exempted from paying the entry fee.
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Do measures to encourage participation in the parade.
Some people may not be interested enough to participate in the event. Try putting in a little bit of competition among the participants. You can set-up a viewing area where known personalities, invited guests, and the judges can sit.
Provide prizes like trophies and cash for awards like “Most Energetic Crowd”, “Best Cheer”, and “Best Float”. A judged competition will create more participation and spark the interest of the media.
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Get professional help in organizing a parade
You may find the task of organizing a parade quite daunting. You can seek the help of an event planner. He can do the dirty work while you provide input as the preparation for the parade progresses. Contact an experienced event planner today!
Written by bleu events, one of the top event planners Columbia, MO has to offer.
