375th BIRTHDAY PARADE
Set for August 31
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PARADE ROUTE
WHAT TIME? The Parade steps off (at Patriots Dr and East Main Rd) at 10 AM.
WHERE DO I PARK? The is no designated parade parking. However there are many parking lots along the route (including the Dunkin Donuts lot just North of Patriots Dr, Clements Market and CVS). There is also parking on many of the side streets. Arrival before 9 AM is recommended.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO VIEW THE PARADE. The parade route (click on the link above) is wide and clear and viewing from any point on the route will give you a good view of the parade. There will be a reviewing stand mid way up Memorial Dr where the Distinguished Participants will view the parade after they march or ride in the parade to that area.
WHAT IF I AM A PARTICIPANT? All participants must enter the staging area via Sprague St. and Education Ln. (which will be one way - North). There is some parking for vehicles transporting participants on the High School parking areas. Parade Officials (in bright yellow tee shirts) can help direct you. Exiting vehicles after drop off must exit via Patriots Dr (Which will be one way East to East Main Road). There will be a check in station at the top of Education Dr where a parade official will direct you to the proper staging area.
Our parade coordinator in George Wardwell. Please contact him with ideas or to help with parade preparations, geoedna@aol.com or 401-619-3899
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP ON PARADE DAY
ALL VOLUNTEERS WILL RECEIVE A FREE PARADE TEE SHIRT
ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST BE BRIEFED BEFORE THE DAY OF THE PARADE.
Contact Sue and Fred Santos ( suem125@cox.net ) for info and to offer your help.
BE A PARADE PARTICIPANT
See the rules below and download required forms here. Deadline is July 15, 2013
PARADE RULES AND REGULATIONS Download (MS WORD FILE)
PARADE RULES AND REGULATIONS Download (PDF FILE)
PARTICIPANT REQUEST FORM (MS WORD FILE)
PARTICIPANT REQUEST FORM (PDF FILE)
PARADE WAIVER FORM (PDF FILE)
The Portsmouth RI 375th Steering Committee cordially invites you to participate in the 375th Birthday Parade.
Town of Portsmouth’s 375th Birthday Parade scheduled for Saturday, 31 August 2013. It is in that planning that we take this time to offer your organization a great opportunity to become a valuable participant in the event. The starting point will be Portsmouth High
School and line-up begins at 08:30 AM. The parade will commence at 10:00AM.
Whether you have a marching contingent, honorary vehicle, or a float, we ask
you to complete the application from the above pdf file link and return it to:
George Wardwell
Hickory Avenue
Middletown, RI 02842
Upon receipt of the application, you will be notified of your placement within the parade lineup, staging area, reporting time and disbursing instructions. If you have any questions or need further information, George Wardwell may be reached at geoedna@aol.com or 401-619-3899.
We hope you will join us in celebrating our proud heritage in American
history!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED
TO JULY15, 2013
PARADE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS
Parade Date: August 31, 2013
GENERAL Entries should observe applicable rules and regulations or be barred from the parade. The Parade Committee reserves the right to remove from the parade, at any time, any entrant not conforming to rules and regulations or any entrant refusing to follow instructions of police or parade officials. Entries will be approved by the Parade Committee before entering the line of march. The following is a list of rules and regulations.
- Performances, which stop the parade, may not be allowed.
- No parade participant may be allowed to have a loaded firearm at any time.
- No smoking or alcoholic beverages on any parade entry at any time before of
during the parade.
- Marching entries should be preceded by marchers carrying a banner or sign
which can be read at a distance of 100 feet, and displayed in a way they can be read in high wind conditions.
- Lone riders may not be permitted in the parade. Anyone wishing to ride a
horse in the parade should be affiliated with and ride with an approved group.
- No open flames.
- No flammable liquids.
INSURANCE
Parade participants should ask their own insurance agents if their insurance offers them sufficient protection while their units are in the parade. Proof of liability vehicle
insurance should be provided with your application.
PLEASE READ THESE RULES AND REQULATIONS YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ENTRY AND FOLLOWING THESE RULES The Parade Inspection Committee is checking each entry at the staging area for compliance to the rules.
Entries should be in their positions by 0830 am or face elimination.
Any exception to the rules will be approved by the Parade Committee. Remember that weather cannot be controlled. If at any time leading up to or on parade day the weather/street conditions are deemed unsafe, the parade may be cancelled. If cancellation is necessary, it will not be rescheduled.
INTOXICATING BEVERAGES:
The use of and/or display of intoxicating beverages in the staging area or the parade is strictly prohibited. Any person violating this regulation shall be removed from the parade and/or the staging arena.
All animals to be used in the parade shall be free from open cuts and shall be clean and well-groomed.
Throwing of prizes, candy, food or any other material from floats or any mechanical or animal drawn vehicle that could entice spectators into the parade route is strictly prohibited. Items can be handed out only; this is a serious safety consideration.
FLOATS
A. SPECIFICATIONS
- Parade floats are decorated flat trailers not exceeding 30 feet in length, 12 feet
in width, and 13 feet in height from the street level. A tractor or street safe truck may pull them.
- Floats and trailers should be within 6 inches in height from the street level or skirted completely to within 6 inches of the ground.
- Floats with standing riders should have rails or sides no less than 3 feet high.
Riders should be seated on floats without rails or sides.
- Trailers transporting a car or boat may not be accepted as a parade float.
- Floats and trailers should have walkers beside each tire. Floats and trailers
should have walkers beside each tire. 2 axle vehicles should have 2 (two) walking escorts,
4 (four) axle vehicles should have 4 walking escorts to be placed on either side of
vehicle for the purpose of safety. (Their job is to keep crowd and children away from vehicles.) No vehicle may be allowed to parade without the appropriate number of spotters. Absolutely no exceptions!!
- Spotters should be 18 years old or older.
- An ABC fire extinguisher is required to be on every float for safety reasons.
- No one may get on or off a float or entry once it has started down the parade route.
- A copy of the rules signed by the person in charge of the entry should be in their
possession at the time of inspection. A copy of signed rules should also be
attached to the signed application.
B. FLOAT INSPECTION
- The person signing application will be present at time of float inspection before
the parade begins.
- The committee requires inspection of floats prior to the parade. Float inspections
may be done in the staging area. You should be in your assigned spot.
- A police review of driver and vehicle suitability may be conducted before
the parade begins. Be prepared to make necessary adjustments or your presentation may be barred from participation.
C. FLOAT OCCUPANCY
- Persons riding on the floats shall have secure footing
- There should be at least two adults on floats where there are children.
- Children under the age of 10 should be harnessed into position (such as
safety belts around the waist), anchored to a fixed object so that they do not fall out of the
float.
D. FLOAT
- Speed within the staging area shall not exceed five miles per hour (5mph). Parade
speeds shall not exceed 10 miles per hour
- All floats with restricted vision must be preceded and flanked with walking traffic
guards.
- No more than 20 people may occupy a float, depending on size.
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