Parade of Lights 2026 Entry Packet

July 3, 2026 - PARADE 101 WHAT IS IT? The Parade of Lights is a Neenah/Menasha parade held the night of July 3 night with all units lit up. Anyone can enter. There is no entry fee. How do we get started? Form a team. Think about people you like to have fun with. Enter with your church group. Enter with an organization you support. Enter with your co-workers to promote your business or place of work. You can even enter with friends and neighbors! What do we need? You can enter a float or march as a group in the parade. For floats, think about cars, pick- up trucks and trailers...anything on wheels. Think of a Patriotic theme and Decorate – Decorate – Decorate! Do we need to use lights? Yes! The parade is at night, and the street lights will be off! Glow sticks and glow jewelry work really well for walking units. Floats and vehicles can use Christmas lights, spot lights or rope lights. These may need to be connected to a generator. Where can we get a generator? A limited number of generators are available to borrow from CommunityFest. The generators are available on a first come, first serve basis and at no charge. The generators are 2000 watt (16 amp capacity). We strongly recommend that you find your own generator as it is becoming more difficult for us to find enough for all parade entries. How about music? Music is encouraged! Live music is always a hit, but recorded music works great, too! Please be respectful of all other entrants. What is the Parade Route? (See enclosed) Any restrictions? Yes. Floats cannot be higher than 14 feet. Candy may be handed out, but NOT THROWN from vehicles or floats. (See other side for NEW important safety requirements!) How do we sign up? Registration forms and more CommunityFest information can be found at www.nmcommunityfest.org NEW SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: PARADE SPEED & MOVEMENT: For the safety of all parade participants all units must maintain 3-5 miles per hour and be within 10-20 yards of the unit in front of them. CANDY, TOYS, LITERATURE, ETC.: To help mitigate any injuries, please follow these suggestions given by the Neenah Police Department: 1. It is forbidden to throw any items into the crowd from a vehicle, trailer, or float 2. Participants of groups/organizations may walk the crowd lines and "hand" candy/items to the spectators 3. Parade participants AND event organizers will be held liable for any negative situations based on violating the rules 4. If a parade participant is observed throwing objects from a vehicle/trailer/float by an officer or city employee, the group can be fined and/or banned from following parades. For your information: After last year’s Community Fest Parade, the NPD determined that they would place crowd lines, (soft barriers with police tape or rope) near Wisconsin Ave. and Commercial St. to hold the crowd/children back. This should only have to be done for part of the parade route. Generator Dropoff Menasha Public Library Friday, July 3, 2026 – 9:00PM TYPE OF ENTRY (check all that apply) ❑ Vehicle(s) / Float ❑ Marching / Walking ❑ Music Number of Motorized Vehicles: Number of Marchers: ❑ Live Music Number of Trailers: ❑ Recorded Total Length of Vehicles Combined: ❑ Choral Group REMEMBER – All entries must include lights. Do you need a generator? (Available 1st Come basis) ❑ No Yes HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT: I understand that the purpose of signing this document is to exempt and release CommunityFest, City of Neenah, City of Menasha, their employees, agents and assigns, and to hold these entities harmless from and against all claims, demands, loss or liability of any kind or nature arising as a consequence of our participation in CommunityFest, or any other act or omission on their part, including but not limited to, active or passive negligence. The undersigned Representative warrants and represents that he/she has the authority to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the undersigned organization. CommunityFest organizers reserve the right to cancel or alter the Parade of Lights as necessary for the safety of all. Signature: Date: LINE-UP AND PARADE INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED LATE JUNE RETURN to: COMMUNITYFEST P.O. Box 426 Neenah, WI 54957-0426 parkrec@neenahwi.gov INFO: 920-886-6060 www.neenahgov.org Organization/Group Name: Contact Person: MUST be at parade Phone (1) Phone (Cell) Address City Zip E-Mail Address: Enter a float or march as a group. Parade entries that will provide entertainment are encouraged to join in on the annual Parade of Lights! REMEMBER the parade is at night. All units (including walking units) should be well lit. A limited amount of generators are available from COMMUNITYFEST at no charge and must be reserved on this application form. To register fill out the information below. No fee required. Registration deadline is May 29th, 2026. Complete details will be emailed to all participants at a later date.