Information for Parade Entrants

The parade route is the same as in 2023, beginning at the McDonald's on Madison Road, turning right on W. Main St., left on Caroline St., and ending in front of the Orange Volunteer Fire Company. Entries will disperse from there.

The parade will take place rain or shine, unless the Town of Orange announces that the weather poses a public safety risk.

Please review the standards for this year's judging found in this document. This will help you design an entry that will maximize your chances for winning a prize.

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The judges will be located near Orange Pharmacy on the south side of W. Main St. (the left side, for those in the parade). 

If your group is in the Performance category, please plan to perform in front of the judges. If performing requires stopping, please perform for no more than one minute in front of the judges before continuing to move.

As you plan your parade performance(s), please keep in mind that each time an entry stops to perform, the parade ahead of that entry keeps moving, causing a gap.

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Spectators who can see the gap but not the stopped performance behind it may think the parade is over and leave.

Please:

a) Limit each stopped performance to 60 seconds or less

b) Stop to perform in places where spectators can see the entry before you throughout your performance. For example, if you perform in front of UVA Credit Union, spectators uphill and around the corner on West Main St. may see the gap but not you.

If your entry includes animals, there must be at least one person assigned to picking up feces (poop) before the entries behind you walk over/around/through it.

Failure to pick up animal droppings will disqualify that entry from winning anything.

If your entry has minors, someone in your organization must be assigned to making sure each child is picked up once your entry completes the parade route.

This may require having the cell phone number of a parent/guardian of each child in your entry so that that adult can be called if the child is not picked up.

2:30-3:30pm    Arrive and wait at your assigned staging location (see next section) any time during this time.

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4pm    Orange Police close parade route to all traffic, including Madison Rd. from the Sheetz to Main St.. Entries arriving after 4pm might not be in the parade.

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4:30pm    Parade begins from the McDonald's on Madison Rd.

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~5:30pm    Parade ends at the Orange Fire Department on Caroline St.

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~6pm    Memorial Tree Lighting in Taylor Park on W. Main St. (all are welcome)

You will receive by email no later than December 5th containing:

* A number indicating your place in the parade line up

* Your staging location.

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When you arrive in town between 2 and 3:30pm:

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a) Park at your assigned staging location and remain there until a Rotary volunteer says it is time to go. The staging locations will also be marked with numbers corresponding to your place in the parade line up.

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b) An Orange Rotary Club volunteer will give you a printed copy of your lineup number that judges will use to confirm your entry's organization/identity.

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Wheeled entries must display this number prominently in the front left of the windshield of the first vehicle.

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Non-wheeled entries will need to show this number while passing the judging stand.

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d) Only when an Orange Rotary volunteer tells your group it is your turn to enter the parade, leave your staging spot and go to the center of Madison St. in front of the McDonald's (153 N. Madison Rd., Orange, VA  22960).

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e) Wait in front of the McDonald's until an Orange Rotary volunteer tells you to go... and then have a ball!

Entries are welcome to distribute things like candy or small gifts to spectators along the route.

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By Town of Orange regulation, distributed items must be handed to spectators or placed on the sidewalk at their feet.

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This regulation is the result of a [fortunately minor] incident involving an eager child and a thrown item landing *in* the parade.

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Failure to observe this requirement will disqualify the entry from winning anything.

Winners will be announced within two weeks after the parade, and winners will receive an email notification. An award ceremony will be held, time/location TBA.

If you have any questions about parade logistics before you arrive on 12/7/23, call/email Pat McAloon at 614-271-1772  orangerotaryclub@gmail.com

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If you have any questions *on* parade day, ask the nearest Rotary volunteer (in a red sweatshirt or yellow t-shirt), and she or he will get an answer.