In order to provide a safe and fun environment for all we ask that participants respect the following guidelines:

• Padre Blvd. lanes will be closed from Kingfish to Mars
  • 4:30 - 6:00 Partial Lane Closure (right lane on each side of Padre Blvd.)
  • 6:00 - 10:00 Total Lane Closure (all lanes of Padre Blvd.)
• Parking for school buses will be at the Convention Center (7355 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597). When the group has reached the parade end, the leader should contact the bus driver to inform them they are ready for pickup. Buses will then travel south on Padre Blvd., turn right on Morningside, then left on Laguna where they will travel south to the pickup area. Police officers will assist with traffic control at the pickup area.
• We recommend that parents park near Kingfish at the end of the parade so that they can meet children.
• A representative from your entry must sign in at the check-in desk for your parade position. Check-in will be in the parking lot of the South Padre Island Post Office at Mars and Padre Blvd. beginning at 4:45 pm ending at 5:45 pm.
• The parade will start promptly at 6:00 pm and is approximately one mile in length.
• If your entry is not in formation (staged in parade line-up) at the start time of the parade, at the discretion of the parade officials, your entry may be placed at the end of the parade or denied.
• Do not throw objects from floats or cars. Participants may walk alongside their float and hand out candy or gifts. Safety is an issue and children may be injured while running out to receive treats. We ask that individuals stay on their floats during the entire parade route.
• No types of fire devices to be used on the float itself.
• No mats or other props may be set up on the street for the performances.  Entry numbers should be visible to judges on the east side of Padre Blvd. and returned to a parade official at the conclusion of the parade.
• Those walking in the parade need to be prepared to speed up at the parade officials’ request. When there is a pause in the parade, entrants can perform for the audience anywhere along the parade route as long as it doesn’t create a gap in the parade. This is important and needs to be adhered to out of respect to the other participants.
• Judging – Padre Island Brewing Co., 3400 Padre Boulevard. Presentations at Judges Stand are not to exceed (90) seconds. A stopwatch will be used and this makes it fair for all entries.
• Prize winners will be mailed checks and announced in local newspapers.
• The parade has an official Santa Claus. No other Santa Claus will be permitted, however, inanimate caricatures will be allowed.
• All entries with animals will be responsible for removal of excrement from the formation area and parade route.