Parade Map & Rules 

2024 McKinney Rotary Christmas Parade of Lights

PARADE RULES 2024 - Read all rules carefully as noncompliance may result in termination of your participation in the parade.

1.    NOTHING THROWN. For safety reasons, nothing can be thrown from the floats. (No candy, toys, confetti, etc.).

2.    HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS: For safety reasons, no entries can exceed 12 feet in height.

3.    APPROVAL: After lineup, all vehicles and groups will need to be approved by a parade committee member.

4.    SANTA: You cannot have a live Santa on your float. (The “real” Santa will be the Rotary Santa. More than one Santa will confuse children and adults).

5.    MOTORCYCLES: No motorcycles allowed, due to noise.

6.    VEHICLES: All vehicles must be street legal. (no go-carts, etc.)

7.    HORSES: No horses allowed, except for MPD Mounted Patrol.

8.    GENERATORS: All vehicles with generators must have a working fire extinguisher.

9.    HOLIDAY THEME: Rotary parade committee has the final approval of all parade entries. If any entries are deemed inappropriate for the family / holiday theme, they will be removed from the parade. (Hate-speech, political verbiage, profanity, “scary” images, or characters, etc. will not be allowed.)

10. POLITICIANS: Only the name of the politician, and the elected position / title will be allowed on the vehicles. No political party “message”. (i.e.: “Hon. Nathan Hecht, Republican Candidate for Chief Justice, Supreme Court, Place 1” is allowed.)

11. ALCOHOL: No alcohol is allowed in the parade staging area.

12. STAGING AREA:FINCH PARK. All vehicles and floats are assigned a number which must be displayed. Please enter Finch Park at the east entrance of the park (intersection of S. Kentucky St and Christian St)  Vehicles not participating  in the parade will not be allowed to enter the park and should park on College street.  DO NOT PARK ON THE STREETS AHEAD OF TIME - THIS ONLY DELAYS THE LINEUP PROCESS.

13. VEHICLES: All vehicles must have license plates, current registration, up to date inspection and insurance. We encourage you to show up with a full tank of gas.

14. PARKING/VEHICLES: ONLY VEHICLES DRIVING IN THE PARADE WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE STAGING AREA. Vehicles transporting walking groups to the staging area will not be allowed in the staging area. Finding parking for said vehicles will be the responsibility of each group.

15. SIGNAGE: Signs for floats are the responsibility of the organizations.

16. NO-REFUNDS: Parade fees are non-refundable.

17. FIRE SAFETY: Parade floats which include hay, paper streamers or decorations shall have a minimum of one fire extinguisher affixed to the trailer.

·         No flammables or containers are allowed on a parade float or trailer transporting people.

·         There shall be no smoking prior to and/or around a parade float while in movement.

·         No fireworks or the like allowed on a trailer or float.

·         If there is a fire extinguisher required, it must be displayed and serviceable.

18. CELL PHONE: We need a cell phone number for one contact person for EVERY PARADE ENTRY. Make sure your phone is on and charged. (This is in case the committee needs to reach you prior to lineup).

19. Once your group has completed the parade route, please DO NOT re-enter the parade.

20. Once you have begun moving in the parade, please DO NOT stop along the route for performances etc. The parade is to continue moving without stopping.

21. JUDGING: Your float must be ready for judging (decorated, set up, lights on, etc.) no later than 6:00 pm. Judges will make their decisions prior to the start of the parade at 6:30.

Thank you for your support of the Rotary Club of McKinney and of the Parade of Lights!