The Downtown Christmas Parade has enjoyed tremendous success over the past several years. The Parade is now the largest annual event in Newfoundland with crowds in excess of 60,000 people each year!!

This success is due in large part to the dedication of the Organizing Committee, the volunteers, and the time and efforts put in by YOU, the participants. It has long been the policy of the Organizing Committee to include as many entries as possible. However, this phenomenal growth of the Parade has created a number of logistical concerns regarding the length of the Parade as well as serious safety concerns. Considering the ever-increasing number of requests, we restrict the number of entries and implement a participation fee of $200.00 to ALL COMMERCIAL ENTRIES and a participation fee of $100.00 to NON-PROFIT GROUPS.

It is our goal to create a first-rate, memorable event that will leave a lasting impression. To accomplish this goal we ask that everyone please adhere to the theme of the Parade. The theme of the Parade is ‘Christmas’ simply ‘Christmas’ and that leaves it wide open!!! For example, you can build a giant Christmas ornament or bulb, construct a huge poinsettia, have polar bears decorating a Christmas tree on an iceberg, build a Smurf Village at Christmas time etc. Let your imagination run wild!! If you need help coming up with ideas please contact me. Please keep in mind that although Charlie Brown’s Christmas, The Grinch, Santa’s Workshop and Mummers are classic entries that everyone enjoys, they have been done numerous times and while they are certainly suitable entries you may want to look beyond those if you want something more original.

We expect all entries to reflect the CHRISTMAS theme and not what a company or organization does or its products. The Downtown Christmas Parade is not an advertisement but rather a community event for children and families. It is a good plan to have a couple of ideas for your entry as we want each entry to be original and special. Therefore, if another group has already submitted an entry very close to yours and and the Parade Committee has already approved it, then we will ask you to submit your second idea.

To ensure the quality of all entries, participants will be required to complete a parade application form and agree to the terms and conditions listed. We will require a representative to provide his or her signature and verify that the regulations will be followed. As required by the City of St. John’s, all motorized vehicles travelling in the Parade will also have to provide a certificate of insurance naming the City of St. John’s as additionally insured (see forms provided). Vehicles will need $2 million in liability, as required by the City of St. John’s. If you do not have your insurance form with the application, we will accept this form at a later date as we understand this may be more time-consuming to obtain. If these regulations are not followed then your organization should be prepared to be refused entry on Parade Day. It is important to note that due to recent events at other Parades, the Downtown Christmas Parade Committee now requires all floats to have safety rails IF there are going to be people riding on them. Rails should be at least 3 feet high. Floats will also be inspected on Parade Day.

We recognize and appreciate the outstanding effort that has been made by many participants over the years and it is this example of commitment that we will expect from all entries. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at SANTA-HI (726-8244).

Sincerely,
Gaylynne Gulliver
Marketing, Special Events, & Media Relations Manager
Downtown St. John’s

2024 Downtown Christmas Parade Application Form

Application Deadline: November 13th, 2026

PLEASE NOTE: ALL DIGNITARIES, PAGENT WINNERS, AND CELEBRITIES MUST TRAVEL IN CONVERTIBLES OR OPEN-TOP JEEPS. IN ADDITION, NO LIMOS, PARTY-STYLE BUSES, MOTORCOACHES, CITY BUSES OR SCHOOL BUSES ARE PERMITTED IN THE DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE.

By completing this application for participation, your group or organization has agreed to abide by the following regulations. Failure to meet these minimal standards will result in your entry being refused permission to participate on Parade Day, November 26th, 2025 (December 3rd in the event of inclement weather).

Application Fee: We require all commercial entries to pay a $200.00 participation fee. Non-profit groups are required to pay a $100 participation fee. This payment (by cheque) must accompany your application. Groups whose applications are not approved will have the fee refunded.

Commercial Messages: We insist that all commercial messages be kept to a minimum. Signage such as “Merry Christmas from the management and staff of ABC Ltd.” is permitted. However, phone numbers, websites, promotion of current sales offers, events, delivery service, or corporate vans/vehicles (unless they are pulling a float) will not be permitted. This policy applies to all entries, including float-towing vehicles.

Theme: The theme of this year’s Parade is ‘Christmas’, that’s right simply “Christmas’, so that leaves it wide open. Your entry should be designed in keeping with the Christmas theme and have ‘kid-appeal’. Pretend that you are six years old, design your entry from that perspective. All entries including walking and dance groups must adhere to the Christmas theme. This event is a celebration of the Holidays for the community and NOTHING more, so therefore groups who are protesting, demonstrating or championing causes will be refused participation.

Design/Decorations: When considering your design you should give careful consideration to the size of the float. Floats over twenty feet will require a great deal of decoration and therefore more volunteer hours and greater experience. In addition, we ask that you incorporate the cab/towing vehicle into the design in order to decorate and disguise it as much as possible. Also, the weather on Parade Day may be a mixed bag of tricks so decorations should be durable enough to withstand wind, snow, and rain.

Santa Claus: Since all children know that there is truly only one Santa Claus and because he is the star of our show, we insist that no other participants dress in a Santa Claus suit.

Floats: Parade floats must not exceed 13 feet in height in order to clear overhead wires. Proper tow vehicles and hook-ups are required when towing a float. A representative from the Parade Committee will be on-site on Parade Day to ensure that all floats are safely secured. Two spotters from your organization will be required to walk with large floats to assist the truck driver navigate the streets. Parade marshals will also be on and to assist as well.

Safety Rails: Safety rails are required on ALL floats with participants riding on them. Safety rails must be 3 feet in height. A representative from Downtown St. John’s will be inspecting the safety rails on Parade Day. If there are no safety rails or if they are not the proper height, the participants will not be permitted to ride on the float, and must walk alongside the float through the Parade. If you do not have participants riding on your float, then you do not need safety rails.

Walking Groups: Only walking groups from non-profit, community-based organizations will be accepted. Commercial groups interested in participating will have to construct a float. Walking groups must adhere to the Parade’s Christmas theme.

Giveaways: In the interest of public safety, participants will not be permitted to distribute giveaways of any kind (candy, promotional material etc.) along the Parade route. Participants found distributing giveaways will immediately be removed from the Parade and banned from participating in all future Parades.

Support Vehicles: There will be absolutely no support vehicles permitted in the Parade. The St. John Ambulance Emergency Medical Team and over 100 volunteers will be stationed along the route to offer any assistance that is required. Replacement drumsticks, extra clothing, or other support materials must be carried by hand.

Insurance: All entries with motorized vehicles are required to provide a certificate of insurance (see attached forms) naming the City of St. John’s as additionally insured, this is a requirement of the City for participation. Vehicles need $2 million liability.

I understand and agree to these conditions governing my group/organization’s participation in the 2023 Downtown Christmas Parade. I accept responsibility for the appearance and conduct of this entry and realize that failure to meet these standards will result in participation being declined on Parade Day.