Where:
Downtown Appleton, along College Ave. & Drew St.*START: Houdini Plaza at College Ave & Appleton St.
*END: City Park at Drew St. & Franklin St.
Appleton, WI 54911
Driving Directions
Celebrate summer by participating in the 6th Annual Downtown Appleton Children's Parade presented by ThedaCare and its physicians benefitting The Building for Kids Children's Museum! Everyone is welcome to attend this fun family event. The more-the-merrier as the kids of our community take over College Avenue and make it their own.
Kids age 12 & under can march in costume, decorate bikes or wagons--anything non-motorized. Parents: pop the baby into an adorned stroller. The sillier, the better. Show off your imagination and creativity with confidence. This is a parade by children and for children.
Advanced registration is required to march in the parade. Participation is free for family/neighborhood groups if registered by July 15. Participation for business/organization groups is $25. Being a spectator along College Avenue and Drew Street is of course free, as is the entertainment in City Park immediately following the parade. Registration closes Monday, July 21, 2014.
Visit www.facebook.com/buildingforkidschildrensparade for the latest parade updates and to view photos from last year's parade.- 5:15 PM: Check In at Houdini Plaza, where you will be given instructions for Line Up on College Ave. in front of BFKCM. Early Check In will be available July 22-23 in The Building for Kids lobby. *In order to walk in the parade, you must check in first.
- 6:00 PM: Parade begins
- Immediately following Parade: Family event in City Park with free entertainment. Food and drink will be sold.
MISSION
The Building for Kids Children's Museum with local business and community leaders are planning the 6th annual Building for Kids Children’s Parade. It’s our effort to provide a free, community event for families and to support The Building for Kids Children's Museum with funds to provide low income families with free memberships to the facility, scholarships for school field trips, facility maintenance, and educational programming.
PARADE PARTICIPATION
Any child 12 years or younger may participate as an individual or in a group. All participants MUST be pre-registered by July 21 and MUST check in on Tuesday or Wednesday. A group may be defined as a non-commercial organization, commercial organization, school (public and private), church, daycare, performing group, etc.
Last day to register is Monday, July 21, 2014.
No pets, other than service dogs, are allowed.
Adults may participate while serving as a designated escort, as a costumed character, as a member of a band or other musical group or as a person powering a float. Groups should limit the number of adults. Adults should not block the view of the children from the audience. We do not want to distract from the parade highlight: the children.
REQUIREMENTS
Only NON-MOTORIZED “floats” are allowed. No motors or engines of any kind are allowed. Children may walk or be transported by wheelchair, strollers, wagons, trikes, bikes or small floats. Failure to control the float shall result with the float being removed from the parade. Any child that is unable to walk the required parade route should be transported. Questions regarding appropriate vehicles should be emailed to the Parade Committee.
No items may be tossed or handed out to the audience. No banners or themes that are commercial, political, or controversial may be displayed. No advertising or signs of any kind may be displayed other than a small sign identifying the float name and organization (if registered as a group). Themes should be appropriate for children.
Group representatives are responsible for informing their participants of parade requirements and rules, time, location, parking and any other necessary details.
Parents or group leaders are responsible for their children at all times, including in the staging area, in the parade procession, and at the conclusion of the parade. A parent, guardian, or group leader MUST be present at the event at all times. No child may be “dropped off” or left unaccompanied at any time.
Smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages will not be allowed in the staging area, Houdini Plaza, or City Park. Parking automobiles inside or closely beside the staging area is not permitted for the safety of the children.
AWARDS
Awards will be given out for the following categories:
- Imagination
- Creativity
- Confidence
- Best Group
- Best Float
Questions about the event or need a media contact?
Email the Parade Committee or call 920-734-3226 x19.
Interested in volunteering?
Email the Volunteer Coordinator or call 920-734-3226 x19.
Interested in being a sponsor or making a donation?
Email the Development Manager or call 920-734-3226 x22.
The Building for Kids Children's Museum believes in building imagination, creativity, and confidence in our community's youth. BFKCM accomplishes this mission through providing a safe space for families to learn through play by exploring hands-on, educational exhibits and, as a non-profit, is supported solely by donations, memberships, and admissions. Opened in downtown Appleton in 1992, over 115,000 visitors enjoy the museum each year.
