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ChildRen's Parade Entry Form

ALEXANDRIA MARDI GRAS ASSOCIATION CHILDREN’S PARADE

It is time to start preparing for the 28th Annual Alexandria Children’s Mardi Gras Parade!  This year’s parade is scheduled to roll at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 1, 2025.  Parade staging will take place at Murray & 10th in Downtown Alexandria.

PARADE CRITERIA

    • Entry Fee: $100 (non-refundable)
      If you wish to pay via debit/credit card, you will be directed to a payment page once you complete the form, or to use PayPal, find us by our email: payments@alexmardigras.net
      Please submit checks to Alexandria Mardi Gras Association – P.O. Box 13651, Alexandria, LA 71315.
      No entries will be approved until payment is received by the registration deadline.
    • Participants on the parade entries shall be a minimum age of five (5) and a maximum age of eighteen (18). This minimum age limit is for safety reasons.
    • You are required to have a minimum of one (1) adult for every five (5) children. We recommend that you also have at least 2 spotters for each vehicle and 4 spotters for each float to walk beside your entry.  Spotters may not throw to the crowd and must perform their designated function of keeping the crowd back from the floats.  Please refer to the attached spotter instruction sheet.
    • Attached you will find a DRIVER INSTRUCTION SHEET – Please be sure to give it to your float driver.
    • No “driver only” vehicles will be permitted in the Children’s parade, except for specialty “floats” such as the Alexandria Aces Airplane, etc. The purpose of this is to prohibit individuals from entering themselves, for whatever purpose, and trying to drive the route while throwing to the crowds and distracting their attention from the path in front of them as they drive.  This would obviously be a hazard to everyone and we do not want that!
    • There is a limit of 70 entries to the parade and may include floats (consisting of long-bed pickup, flatbed trailers, or professional floats), marching units, bands, cars, trucks, etc.
    • All entries must be decorated for Mardi Gras and have a Mardi Gras theme.
    • You are required to purchase your own throws, which include beads, cups, doubloons, toys, candy, etc. 
    • We will be assembling large floats at 7:00 AM and all other parade units at 8:00 AM. All entries must be in their assigned location no later than 9:30 AM.

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the above, please feel free to call.

Jenna Bonner – 542-9084

28th ANNUAL CHILDREN’S PARADE ENTRY FORM
PARADE DATE – March 1, 2025

PLEASE NOTE – THERE IS AN ENTRY FEE DUE FOR EACH UNIT ENTERED! THEREFORE, IF YOU MARK MARCHING UNIT YOU ARE ALLOWED ONE SMALL VEHICLE FOR MUSIC ONLY. ALL UNITS PULLING TRAILERS MUST PAY A FEE FOR EACH UNIT BEFORE THE PARADE ENTRY DEADLINE. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BRING EXTRA UNITS ON THE DAY OF THE PARADE.

NOTE: The 2025 Children’s Parade will begin promptly at 10:00 AM, on Saturday, March 1. We will begin assembling large floats at 7:00 AM and all other parade units at 8:00 AM. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE IN THEIR ASSIGNED LOCATION NO LATER THAN 9:30 AM. Your entry number will be emailed to you no later than February 7, 2024.

You are required to purchase your own throws. These should include beads, cups, doubloons, toys, candy, etc. Alexandria Mardi Gras Association reserves the right to refuse entry to any applicant.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY IS FEBRUARY 3, 2025 NO EXCEPTIONS!

Completed Entry Form and $100.00 entry fee entry fee is non-refundable (Make Payable to Alexandria Mardi Gras Assoc)
should be addressed to: AMGA PO BOX 13651 Alexandria, LA 71351

Thank you for volunteering to drive a parade unit in this year’s Alexandria Children’s Mardi Gras Parade. We ask that you please follow the instructions below to assist us in making this the best and safest parade ever:

  1. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU BRING YOUR TRAILER AND/OR FLOAT AT THE TIME DESIGNATED.
  2. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE UP WITH THE CHILDREN ALREADY IN THE BACK OF THE TRAILER. THERE ARE SOME VERY IMPATIENT DRIVERS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE PARADE AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO EXPOSE CHILDREN TO THAT ENVIRONMENT IN THE BACK OF AN OPEN TRAILER.
  3. YOU ARE NOT TO IMBIBE ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BEFORE OR DURING THE PARADE!
  4. PLEASE TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE UNITS IN FRONT OF YOU (AT A SAFE DISTANCE OF COURSE) DO NOT LET A LARGE AMOUNT OF SPACE ACCUMULATE BETWEEN YOU AND THE UNIT IN FRONT OF YOU.
  5. IF YOU HAVE A BAND IN FRONT OF YOU PLEASE BE SURE TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH ROOM TO PERFORM AT THE REVIEWING STAND.
  6. YOU WILL BE GIVEN A NUMBER TO PUT IN YOUR FRONT WINDOW TO ASSIST US IN MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE PROPER ENTRY ORDER. IF YOU ARE NOT GIVEN A NUMBER, PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE ASSISTANTS. THEY WILL BE SURE TO GET YOU A NUMBER.

Thank you so much for volunteering to be a spotter in this year’s Alexandria Children’s Mardi Gras Parade. While we want you to enjoy the experience to its fullest extent, it is necessary for us to remind you of your primary duties as a spotter

  1. Please remain beside the float at all times during the parade.
  2. Please do not allow viewers to walk up to the float. It is imperative that no one try to run up to the float. They could slip easily and fall under the wheels.
  3. Please do not take beads over to parade viewers when asked to do so by the riders. They should not request this of you. If you walk away from the float, it allows the opportunity for viewers to run up to the float.
  4. You should not be throwing any throws yourself. It is impossible for you to watch for children (and adults) that are getting too close to the floats while throwing beads, etc. at the same time.

Again, thank you for volunteering your time to help make this years parade the most enjoyable yet.

Thank you so much for helping these children have a wonderful time. We could not do it without you! Please feel free to call Jenna Bonner 542-9084 with any questions.