Celebrating Freedom July 4th Parade & Picnic

Description

Key Largo Chamber presents Celebrating Freedom 4th of July Parade, Picnic and Fireworks!

Parade starts at 10:00 AM

Freedom-Fest Picnic at Key Largo Community Park starts at 11:00 AM

PARADE

Get ready for the 50th Annual 4th of July Parade in Key Largo! Be part of the fun by registering a float. 

This year's theme is PATRIOTIC in honor of our country's 250th birthday and the 50th Key Largo Parade.

Judging is based on the following:

1. Design: Evaluate artistic imagination, color combination, and focal point grouping.
2. Construction Details: Assess workmanship, materials used, lettering, and use of natural materials.
3. General Effect: Consider overall beauty and audience reaction.
4. Theme: Evaluate how well the float communicates its theme and relates to the parade theme.
5. Music:  If the float incorporates music, it will automatically score 3 points.    

Categories for Judging: (Be creative) (Only floats are eligible for judging.)

Best in Theme - 250/50

Most Beautiful 

Most Patriotic

Best Business

Best Non-Profit 

Best overall score "Spirit of 76" 

Parade line-up instructions: All entrants must be in the parking lot of Anthony's Clothing store at mile marker 98.2 between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.  Arrive early!  Northbound U.S. 1 will be closed at 9:45 a.m.   

Please enter Anthony's from the southbound first entrance.  After registering, you will be guided to the position. All other entrances/exits will be closed.  Larger boats will be redirected to the second entrance after registration. 

Categories: Judges will decide on the best entry in the following categories - Best Theme, Most Patriotic, Most Beautiful, Best Business, and Best Non-Profit.  Winners will be announced at the Freedom Fest Picnic immediately following the parade. Personalized Plaques will be awarded a few weeks after the event.

Car: A single vehicle, including pickup trucks.  The vehicle may be decorated, but it must be road-worthy.

Marching: Any Individual or group traveling the parade route on foot.  Marching entries cannot stop to perform during the parade.   Stopping disrupts the parade flow and creates unsafe traffic conditions; everyone must keep moving. 

Float: A decorated trailer or another item pulled by a separate vehicle.  Every judged vehicle must display the parade entry number on the front right side.   

Order of line-up:
1) Color Guard
2) Grand Marshall
3) Key Largo Chamber
4) Emergency Vehicles
5) Sponsors of the event
6) All other places in the parade are determined by the order of entrants leaving the parking lot; please wait until you are signaled to leave.  No entrants other than the Sponsors are guaranteed a place in the parade order.

Celebrating Freedom Parade Rules:

The Key Largo Chamber of Commerce is responsible for arranging a non-partisan parade commemorating our liberties. 

Political Campaigns, Organizations, and Candidates: The parade organizers strictly prohibit the display of offensive signs, clothing, and decals during the procession. Participants with vehicles and individuals carrying objectionable language or imagery will be asked to remove them before joining the parade. If they do not comply, they will be asked to leave the parade. 

Permitted Signs & Decal Examples:

• Business Promotion

• Anything 4th of July

• The candidate running for office

• Register to Vote

Only parade floats and vehicles in the parade will be allowed in the staging area parking lot.   

Passing out literature is discouraged due to the environmental impact of litter on the streets.  

Candy is permitted.  Please gently toss the candy toward the children standing on the side of the road rather than on the actual road, as children tend to dart out onto the street.   

Please stay aware of the participants ahead of and behind you.  Allowing only a short gap between entries is essential for everyone's safety.  If the group in front of you stops, please stop as well.  If you are going much slower than those ahead, please catch up.

Walkers:  You must not obstruct moving vehicles – please step to the side of the road to allow the floats and vehicles to pass.

All moving vehicles must remain in the middle of the road.  Stay away from either side of the road or into the crowds. 

At the end of the parade, please proceed past the first driveway of Waldorf Plaza to break down floats and displays.  Turning at other points can create traffic hazards and confusion, which can result in fines.

Entries must be roadworthy on the parade route.  After the parade, remove all loose items and break down displays as much as possible.

DOWNLOAD THE RULES & REGULATIONS AND BRING THE SIGNED FORM TO PARADE CHECK-IN.

FREEDOM FEST FAMILY PICNIC

Immediately after the parade, join us for an exciting afternoon at Key Largo Community Park for the "Freedom Fest Family Picnic!" Gates open at 11:00 AM. Come and enjoy the fun-filled festivities. Please note that coolers are not permitted, but don't worry—we've got you covered with plenty of refreshments available on-site. Get ready to have an unforgettable time!

VENDORS WANTED!

Food Vendors - $100

Shopping/Other Vendors - $50

Nonprofits with Activity/Games for Kids - $0

FIREWORKS

When the sun goes down, the sky will light up! Look for fireworks over Blackwater Sound!