2019 N.C. 4th of July Festival Parade Application 

The current N.C. 4th of July Festival Parade began in 1964 but has roots dating back to 1700’s, when the ladies of Smithville (now the City of Southport) dressed in white and marched through the town in observance of Independence Day. Today’s parade is much longer and has a bigger variety, with over 120 units filling the streets as children’s eyes.   Entry Deadline is Friday, June 14th.   Lineup information will be mailed on June 26th.   Please make sure to read rules below before entering the parade.

Thursday, July 4th - stepping off at 11:00am.

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Televised on WECT TV6 on July 4th.

2019 N.C. 4th of July Festival Parade Rules

Make sure you read these rules prior to registering.

• Parade participants must review, agree to, and sign a statement certifying they will be responsible for their group’s adherence to the parade rules.
• The parade is rain or shine. In case of extreme weather, please listen to local media stations or check the Festival Facebook or Website for updates and cancellations.

• “Type, Length and Number of Vehicles” is a required entry on the parade application. If actual entry is materially different from the description on the application, the parade officials may choose to move the entry to the end of the parade line up.
• Amplified music must be played at a level that does not interfere with the entry in front or behind. Music shall be family friendly and shall not contain overly suggestive or explicit lyrics.

• Units not in proper sequence according to the official parade lineup will not be allowed on the parade route.
• Units shall maintain proper spacing between each unit, as directed by parade officials.
• Multiple piece units will be condensed to two or three abreast.
• Automobile units will be limited to 10 vehicles.
• Units executing maneuvers along parade route for the reviewing stand shall inform the Parade Chair or chief parade official prior to the start of the parade of the type and duration of the maneuvers. Stationary maneuvers should be designed to be short enough in length to keep the flow of the parade constant.
• ALL units are expected to maintain position until they pass Ocean Trail Health Care & Rehabilitation Center on Fodale Avenue. The pickup and drop-off location for parade participants is the old Jaycees building (currently Southport Park & Recreation building) on Fodale Avenue. Make sure that when you do stop your unit that it is not creating a bottleneck behind you and those riders are not jumping off into the road or walking back into parade traffic.
• NO parade participant shall be allowed to walk back down the parade route after finishing the parade. Please inform all members of your unit. Parade officials will be along the parade route to prevent pedestrian traffic back onto the parade route.
• PARADE PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DISTRIBUTE, THROW, GIVE AWAY OR HAND OUT ANY ITEMS ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE. This includes, but is not limited to candy, silly string, water balloons, toys, stickers, beads, pamphlets, flyers and the use of water guns. In addition, walkers will not be allowed to hand materials to spectators.
• All animal units must comply with City, State and Federal ordinances and/or laws. Each animal unit must provide an identifying banner and their own cleanup crew. Horse trailers can be parked on Taylor Field at the end of East Nash Street.
• Any non-hoofed animal walking in your unit must wear protective footwear.  If they do not have protective footwear they must ride in your unit.
• Animal units should be aware that some units in the parade generate noise. We try to limit as much as possible the animal unit’s exposure to loud noises when arranging the parade line up, but all noise cannot be avoided. Please consider this before entering any timid animals.
• Drivers of any and all motorized vehicles in the parade must possess a valid driver’s license for that type of vehicle and possess all liability vehicle insurance.
• Motorcycle units must obey all traffic laws. Revving engines, wheelies, burning tires, etc. will not be tolerated and participants will immediately be removed from the lineup.
• An adult must accompany children below the age of 7 on any unit.
• An adult must hold children below the age of 3 on the unit.
• In order to ride on the top of the back seat in a convertible you must be 16 years of age. No one will ride on the top of or hood of the car.
• Do not blow air horns. Bump sirens only.
• Alcoholic beverages and smoking are prohibited. All City, County and NC State statutes concerning the consumption of alcoholic beverages will be strictly enforced by the police, before during and after the parade.
• The North Carolina 4^th of July Festival is an entertainment event celebrating the founding of our Nation by displaying the goodwill of its participants to all attendees. It is not the venue for political campaigning or promoting divisive agendas. The parade committee reserves the right to accept or reject any applicant for any reason. Political campaigning is not permitted. No political literature is to be distributed and no political banners or buttons may be displayed on your unit or those in your unit. Festival will provide the signs for all VIPS. Any unit violating this rule or any rule will be removed from the lineup.
• Parade marshals will assist you at lineup and egress throughout the parade route. They are authorized to enforce the rules of the parade. They have the right to pull entries that do not comply with the rules and regulations.
• The North Carolina 4^th of July Festival Parade is a family-oriented event and all participants must perform in a tasteful manner. Any unit deemed on parade day by parade officials to be substantially different from the description on its application or to display behavior, signage, or dress offensively to a general audience may be denied entry into the parade, or be removed from the line of march, and barred from participating in future parades. Obscene/offensive gestures and foul language (including music lyrics) will not be tolerated and participants will immediately be removed from the line of the march.
• Additional rules ONLY for those renting a float from the Festival:
  • No running, jumping, dancing, clogging, etc. on the float.
  • No Smoking.
  • No alcoholic beverages.
  • No candy or other items thrown from the float.
  • Children under the age of 16 must have an adult supervisor present at all times.
  • Participants will not have body parts, particularly legs and feet, extending past the sides, front or rear of the float. This is an extreme safety hazard.
  • No participants may dismount from a float during the parade route.
  • No participants may board on a float to ride during the parade route.
  • Personnel riding on the float should sit or stand at the designated areas.
  • Float capacity will not be exceeded. A maximum of twelve adults is the limit for a full float.
  • No hay, straw, mulch, sand, etc. on a float.
  • No confetti, “snow”, polyester cotton fill on a float.
  • No pets or animals on a float.
  • No motorized vehicles including cars, trucks, boats, 4 wheeler, hot air balloons, motorcycles, etc.
  • All items must be removed immediately following the parade. The Festival and/or Richey Parade Floats will not be held responsible for lost items.
  • You should arrange for transportation at the end. Pickup area is at the Southport Parks & Recreation Building (Old Jaycees Building).
  • Ride at your own risk.