Great Lakes Energy Grand Royale Parade

Greetings!

The 72nd annual NATIONAL TROUT FESTIVAL® is fast approaching and we wanted to give you the first opportunity to complete the parade application. The festival this year will be bigger and better, running from April 23rd through the 27th, 2008.

Through increased cooperation from Kalkaska area businesses and residents, we’ll have banners carried in front of the winning entries as well as several new features. I know you won’t want to miss out in participating in this year’s event. Parade applications are due April 24, and the theme is “Troutin’ Around the World”. Please keep this theme in mind as you create your entry. PLEASE REVIEW THE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY, AS THERE ARE SOME CHANGES.

Lineup information will again be distributed from the front of BIRCH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL starting at 10:15 am on parade day, April 26, with formation along village streets. If you don’t want to be judged, we ask that you not arrive until 1:00 pm to avoid congestion. Those desiring to be judged should be in place by 12:30 pm The parade starts promptly at 2:00 pm.

We look forward to your participation in this year’s Great Lakes Energy Grand Royale Parade.

Sincerely,
Deb Johnston
Parade Coordinator

NATIONAL TROUT FESTIVAL® PARADE GUIDELINES

The Parade Director and NATIONAL TROUT FESTIVAL® Board reserve the right to refuse any entry that is not in good taste or in the best interest of the NATIONAL TROUT FESTIVAL®.
  1. Entry applications must be returned by April 24, 2008. They can be sent via mail or fax.
  2. Lineup times:
    1. Those desiring TO be judged are asked to line up prior to 12:30 pm, after securing lineup information from the staff at Birch Street Elementary School.
    2. Those desiring NOT TO be judged are asked to line up after 1 pm, again picking up information from Birch Street Elementary. By making these changes we hope to reduce the congestion along village streets.
  3. The winning entries will have banners carried in front of them by representatives of Kalkaska area businesses. In addition, their plaques will be presented by a parade official in front of the reviewing stand in downtown Kalkaska.
  4. STRICT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS MUST BE OBSERVED BY ALL ENTRIES.

VEHICLE RULES
  1. Motorcycles, ATV’s or other motorized vehicles which are not street-worthy, are ineligible to participate.
  2. Drivers of all motorized vehicles must be at least 18 years of age and hold a valid license.
  3. We request all commercial vehicles be decorated in some form and there will only be one commercial vehicle allowed per establishment.
  4. We hope to have a special place for area fire trucks to assemble and will be dismissing them, en masse, at the front of the parade. This will be in the old Cedar Street Pub parking lot, as it was last year.

FLOAT RULES
  1. All floats must be able to maneuver village streets properly without causing major disturbances.
  2. To qualify as a float, the unit should be skirted and all objects on it must be completely decorated and in good taste.

ANIMAL UNIT RULES
  1. Each unit is required to have its own cleanup crew.
  2. Parade dress for riders is desired.
  3. All units are required to maintain a forward motion.
  4. Animals must be controlled by means of a harness, halter or leash if not otherwise contained.

MARCHING UNITS
  1. Area bands are asked to maintain a forward motion, but will be allowed to pause momentarily in front of the reviewing stand and play two selections for the audience. The selections can include movement by the band members, the flag corps or other units. Following their performance, the band must again move down the parade route in a forward motion.

OTHER
  1. Throwing of candy is NOT ALLOWED from the center of Cedar Street, but we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE participants to walk along the side of the street to distribute treats.
  2. The Judge’s decisions are considered final.

Copyright © 2008 National Trout Festival®