2006 PARADE LINEUP (68kb)

2006 Entertainment Schedule (PDF 124kb)
Garage Sale Application Form (PDF 20kb)
Craft Show Application (PDF 227kb)
FUNFEST Parade Registration Form (PDF 116kb)

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
TO BE A PART OF THE
FUNFEST 2006 PARADE!
Download FUNFEST Policies PDF (336kb)

Please plan to join us as FUNFEST celebrates a half century of Rock & Roll at our 2006 FUNFEST Parade! FUNFEST is one of the biggest parades in Northeastern Pennsylvania, attracting musical and other units from throughout the state. This year's parade is set for Sunday, September 10th, and we’d like you to join in the excitement. All new award categories will be instituted this year, and as usual, awards will be given to the entries which best represent the theme.

Your entry in the parade is free, and can give your organization or business a tremendous amount of exposure to the estimated 70,000 people along the parade route. The Parade will kick off at 2:30 p.m. in West Hazleton, and will reach the Downtown area shortly after 3:00.

In keeping with our ongoing effort to provide the most entertaining, exciting, and SAFE parade possible, FUNFEST has retained members of the NATIONAL JUDGES ASSOCATION to serve as judges for this year’s parade. These professional judges have adjudicated hundreds of parades, and we are honored to have them taking part in FUNFEST’s parade this year. Their addition also means that there will be some major changes to the rules this year, so we ask you to please read the following pages carefully. The biggest change is that UNITS MAY NO LONGER STOP AT THE JUDGES’ STAND TO PERFORM.

Click here to download the parade registration form. Simply complete it and return it to FUNFEST as soon as possible to be considered for our Parade. Be sure to complete it in full, and to sign it. Each application will be reviewed by the Parade Committee. Should your application be approved, you will receive other details concerning the parade registration and line-up, most likely in early August. Those whose applications are rejected will receive notification, along with the reason for the rejection, immediately.

We are most grateful to any group, business or individual who chooses to take part in our parade, and hope you understand that the following rules are necessary to assure the safety and enjoyment of our audience, as well as the participants. We look forward to seeing you at FUNFEST 2006.

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Outstanding Use of Theme
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Outstanding School Band
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Outstanding Independent Band
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Outstanding Float
• Outstanding Marching Band Group-Junior-School Organization
• Outstanding Marching Group-Senior-School Organization
• Outstanding Group-Non-Schol
• Outstanding Drum Major
• Outstanding Percussion
• Outstanding Parade Participant

COMMITTEE MONITORS
Representatives of the FUNFEST Committee will be stationed throughout the parade route, from West Hazleton to Pine Street as Parade Monitors. Monitors will be given the task of ensuring that parade policies are adhered to. If a monitor finds any unit in violation of our rules, that unit will be notified that they have been “flagged.” The violation will be reported to the judges, who will then determine whether the unit should be disqualified from award contention. The FUNFEST Committee will determine whether the group should be asked not to return to FUNFEST in future. Serious infractions may result in immediate ejection from the line-up.

MUSICAL AND PERFORMING UNITS
All parade entries are encouraged to perform as much as possible while marching in the parade. However, DO NOT hold up the parade at ANY time to STOP AND PERFORM… especially within the judging area. Any unit found to be holding up the parade for the purpose of a performance will be flagged.

Performance Area: Although units are NO LONGER ALLOWED TO STOP TO PERFORM, you will be judged based on your performance while marching/riding through the “Performance Area.” This will be an area of approximately half a block, and will be in the same general area of the judges stand in previous years (from Laurel Street halfway down to Wyoming St.) It will be clearly marked with signs saying “you are now entering the judging area.” Our professional judges will judge your performance within that area, but judges will be located throughout that area…NOT on the stage! You will be automatically disqualified from award eligibility if you STOP to perform! You must continue moving at all times! All units entered in the parade will be eligible for awards unless they are disqualified for breaking our rules.

Judging Criteria: The National Judges’ Association follows strict criteria in their judging. Bands will be judged on precision, ranks, files, starts & stops, turns & technique, as well as showmanship, theme, originality, music execution, repertoire, and expression. Non-musical marching units, including cheerleading groups, will also be judged based on precision, ranks, bearing, etc.

FLOATS
Definition: For FUNFEST's purposes, a float is defined as "any mobile unit the major portion of which is decorated to reflect the theme of the event, or another theme which, in the opinion of the committee, is entertaining, informative, or educational." Most vehicles will not be accepted unless the can be designated as a float.

Judging Criteria: Floats are no longer permitted to stop to allow performances. Riders should at no time dismount from a float. Floats will be judged by the National Judges Association based on effective use of materials, effort in construction, theme, color harmony, use of special effects and crowd appeal.

COMMERCIAL ENTRIES
Commercial enterprises are welcome to take part in the parade, but only if their entry falls into one of these categories:

1. Corporate Sponsor: Commercial enterprises which contract with FUNFEST as an "official FUNFEST sponsor" (Gold, Silver or Bronze) may enter up to two vehicles/entries which promote their business and/or a particular theme relating to that business or to FUNFEST itself.

2. Commercial Float: Floats which meet the above float definition will be accepted. There is no charge for entering a commercial float, and entries are eligible for a FUNFEST parade trophy.

3. Commercial Vehicle: This is defined as a novelty-type vehicle, not used for regular day to day business, which represents a business or product. Entries promoting a business/product must, in the opinion of the committee, offer parade audiences an attraction which is either entertaining, informative or educational. Examples of acceptable "commercial vehicles" include: race cars, beer wagons, antique cars/trucks, etc.

4. Commercial Media Vehicle: Radio, television or other media are welcome to include one company vehicle in the parade. The entry fee for such vehicles is $250. Payment of cash for the entry fee may be waived in lieu of in-kind services, i.e. pre-event advertising regarding FUNFEST.

FIRE, EMERGENCY & RESCUE VEHICLES
Due to time constraints on the parade, the Committee has been forced to limit the number of emergency vehicles it can allow in the parade. These rules will apply to all fire, rescue, emergency and ambulance companies

(Please note, special arrangements have been made with the Hazleton and West Hazleton Fire Departments, who serve as FUNFEST’s “host municipalities”).

1. Fire, Rescue: Each company is limited to one vehicle, regardless of whether they are fire, emergency, or rescue vehicles.

2. Emergency, Ambulance: Each company is limited to one vehicle.

V.I.P.'s
The following V.I.P.'s are invited to take part in the FUNFEST Parade.

1. Elected officials: Incumbent federal, state, county and local elected officials who currently represent the people of the Hazleton Area will be permitted to ride in the FUNFEST Parade. In order to make the parade more entertaining to our spectators, the following rules will be applied to political participants:

a. Only ONE vehicle from each governmental entity may be entered in the parade. Members of that entity should either choose a representative to ride in the parade, or arrange for all those interested to ride in the one vehicle. It is the responsibility of the elected officials to provide their own vehicles, however, FUNFEST expects the vehicles used to be automobiles, and preferably convertibles. If the vehicle does not fall into that category, FUNFEST should be notified, and the vehicle will be subject to Committee approval.

b. Elected officials' vehicles may be placed throughout the parade line-up, at the beginnings of each division. Location in the line-up is at the discretion of the FUNFEST Committee. The Committee reserves the right to arrange for elected officials' vehicles to ride side by side.

c. Only elected officials and their drivers should ride in the vehicles.

d. The FUNFEST Committee will provide two uniform signs to identify each incumbent and list his position. No other signs are allowed.

e. It is prohibited for any political candidate, whether seeking office or incumbent, to distribute or display campaign material in any form during the FUNFEST Parade.

2. Titlists or Pageant Winners will not be accepted, unless they are part of an approved entry (such as riding on a float.)

3. Grand Marshal: As determined by the FUNFEST Committee.

CAR, TRUCK AND OTHER VEHICLE CLUBS
The maximum number of automobiles, trucks or 4x4's per club allowed entry into the parade is SIX. Vehicles must ride in the formation designated by FUNFEST; that is, in a maximum of two rows, three vehicles per row. Unregistered vehicles must be trailered, and engines of trailered vehicles must be off at all times during the parade. All vehicles must obey all traffic safety laws, and must be driven with the safety of spectators in mind. Squealing of wheels, vehicular stunts and other reckless driving is prohibited.

OTHER PARADE RESTRICTIONS

1. Product/Goodie Distribution: For the safety of spectators, FUNFEST insurance regulations strictly PROHIBIT throwing, handing out, or in any other way distributing items from the line of march. This rule applies whether items are thrown from a vehicle or distributed by participants walking along sidewalks. ALL distributions are prohibited.

2. Alcoholic beverages: Absolutely no alcohol is permitted within the parade or at FUNFEST in general. Violators will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law by the Hazleton and West Hazleton Police Departments.

3. Sound Effects Sirens and horns should not be sounded during the parade.

4. Animals: Horses are welcome, but must be diapered, or must have their own clean-up crew. All other animals must gain specific committee approval.

5. Excessive Noise: The volume of sound systems, bullhorns, or any other amplified sound must be controlled, so as not to conflict with other parade entries.

6. Chaperones: Parade entry sponsors are responsible for all those involved in their unit at all times throughout the parade. Adults must assure that children are met at the parade end and escorted back to their families.

PERTINENT INFORMATION
Kick off for parade is 2:30 on Sept. 10th. All entrants must register at CITIZENS FINANCIAL BANK (McKenna's Corners – Broad St at Winters Ave.) in West Hazleton. ONE representative of each entry should be sent to pick up registration number. Other group members should meet at the line-up area for your division (to be announced).

The parade will begin in West Hazleton and proceed east on Broad St., then turn north onto Pine St., and disband north of Green St. Reload areas will be along N. Pine St. between Green & Holly. Participants who have completed the line of march should NOT walk back up Broad Street while the remainder of the parade is in progress.

Parade registration forms must be signed by an authorized official of the organization, who will serve as pre-event contact person. If a different person will be responsible for the group on the day of the parade, that person must sign as well. It is the responsibility of the site contact person to see to it that all group members are made aware of and abide by the above rules. Additional information concerning the line-up and registration will be forwarded to accepted parade entries several weeks before FUNFEST.

VIOLATORS OF ANY FUNFEST POLICIES OR RULES MAY BE FLAGGED, DISQUALIFIED FROM AWARD CONTENTION, OR ASKED NOT TO RETURN TO FUTURE EVENTS. SERIOUS INFRACTIONS WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FROM THE LINE-UP. FUNFEST RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INCLUDE ITS OWN ENTRIES IN THE FUNFEST PARADE. APPLICATIONS WITH DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF PARADE ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE OF AUGUST 11 OR THEY WILL BE REJECTED!