Parade Participant Checklist
Your step-by-step guide to marching down Main Street. Work through each item below to make sure your entry is ready for the Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Marching
Thank you for participating in the Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade! Work through each item below to make sure your entry is ready for parade day.
- 1
Complete the Parade Application
Ensure your parade registration form has been fully submitted and approved.
- 2
Submit Payment
All participation fees must be paid in full to secure your spot in the parade lineup.
- 3
Review the Parade Rules & Regulations
Carefully read through all guidelines to ensure compliance and safety for all participants.
- 4
Sign the Required Waiver Form
All participants must sign and submit the parade waiver no later than November 25th.
- 5
Become a Sponsor
Support the parade and increase visibility for your organization through sponsorship opportunities.
- 6
Register as a Volunteer
Volunteers help us create a magical and safe experience for the entire community.
- 7
Purchase or Prepare Your Float
Ensure your float, vehicle, or walking unit is ready, decorated, and meets all parade requirements.
- 8
Confirm Lineup & Arrival Instructions
Look out for the official lineup details, arrival times, and staging instructions sent closer to the event date.
- 9
Arrive On Time — Late Arrivals Are Not Permitted
Arrive during your assigned staging window (1:30–3:30 PM). Entries that miss check-in may not be placed in the lineup, and no refund will be issued.
- 10
Stay Connected for Updates
Watch your email and our official website for any last-minute announcements, weather updates, or instructions.
Completed every step? You're ready for Main Street! Watch for your official lineup position and arrival time sent closer to December 6, 2026.
Parade Day Operations
Staging, Capacity & Crowd Control
How the committee and volunteers keep the staging area and route safe on parade day — built from what we learned staging past parades.
Mark lineup spaces from real counts
Lineup spaces are marked from each group’s actual float/truck count and verified group size — not estimates — so the staging area fits every entry.
Verify headcounts at check-in
Participant caps (20 per entry; 25 for dance groups and marching bands) are enforced during lineup. Groups that misreport headcounts may be removed from the lineup.
Place cones and barricades early
Spectators place chairs and couches along the route as early as 9:00 AM — cones and barricades go out early to prevent crowd creep into the route.
Block the funeral home driveway
The funeral home driveway is blocked (property use agreement required) to prevent unsafe crossings along the route.
Light the float disassembly area first
Lighting is prioritized along Woodrow Street, where floats disassemble after the parade, over the rarely used child drop-off/pickup area.
Headlights and candy rules on the route
All parade vehicles run headlights once dark (ideally at all times), and candy is handed out by walkers — never thrown, and never stored in open truck beds.
Keep Going
Other Ways to Be Part of the Parade
Ready for Parade Day?
Review the full parade day details — route, staging, lineup zones, and arrival times — so you know exactly where to be on December 6, 2026.