• The Mandan Independence Day Parade is not responsible for accidents. All parade entries are responsible for their own safety precautions and are expected to practice their own preventative measures.


• If your parade entry has horses or ATVs, it is the riders’/drivers’ responsibility to keep the horses/ATV under control.


• To allow for proper planning, parade entry submissions, signed statement of understanding and $35 entry fee must be postmarked by June 1. All entries postmarked after June 1, will be assessed a $25 late fee.


• All parade entries MUST sign the attached statement of understanding of these rules/guidelines along with the appropriate entry form and fee. Any parade entrant that has not submitted all of these required documents will NOT be allowed in the parade.


• All entry fees are non-refundable. Refunds will not be given for no-shows, cancellations, extractions, bad weather, etc.


• If the parade gets called off due to weather, efforts will be made by the Mandan Independence Day Parade to re-schedule. Any re-scheduling of the parade will be communicated through local media sources.


• Be on time. The parade will depart Dacotah Centennial Park at 9:30 a.m. and will arrive at Mandan Main Street at approximately 10:00 a.m. All entries are encouraged to be in their prescribed staging area, assembled and be ready to move out by 9:30 a.m


• If a parade entry is not in their assigned staging area at the prescribed time, their spot in the parade line up will be forfeited. The entry will then be placed, on a first come first serve basis, at the end of the parade.


• All parade entries must be tastefully decorated. Any parade entry not decorated will be extracted from the parade line-up at the discretion of the Parade Director


• A tastefully decorated parade entry will consist of, but not limited to, materials such as fringe skirting, bunting and other colorful decorative materials. Vehicles and trailers must be fully skirted and decorated.


• Parade entry decorations should not be considered offensive to any general spectator or organization. Water guns, squirt guns, super soakers, water balloons, or similar items of aggression are considered offensive and will not be permitted in the parade.


• A parade theme is designated each year. All parade entries are encouraged to decorate their floats in accordance with the parade theme. Artistic interpretation of the theme is encouraged.


• Dignitaries, royalty and elected officials are responsible for their own transportation and signs.


• For the purpose of safety for all spectators, items will NOT be distributed by throwing or tossing off of the parade entry. Any person distributing any items must walk along side of the crowd, NOT along side the parade entry. This includes, but not limited to, water bottles, candy, fliers, trinkets of any kind, etc…


• Parade entries that are observed throwing anything from the float will be extracted from the parade and will not be allowed back into the parade.


• Parade entries will be assigned to a pre-designated staging area and will assemble prior to the parade beginning. Purpose of the staging area is to coordinate the parade entries for proper line-up.


• The parade is long. Any group that stops to give special performances or to speak with groups of people and/or media sources causes undue gaps in the parade.


• Any parade entry that causes the parade to stop (e.g. radio/television interviews, special performance groups, political entries, or those experiencing mechanical breakdown) is encouraged to immediately move to the side of the road to allow the parade to progress with ease.


• Dignitaries and elected officials are encouraged to ride as passengers in a vehicle. The continual shaking of hands and speaking with citizens causes great gaps in the parade and will not be permitted.


• Please help to keep our city clean. The distribution of fliers or other bulk material is highly discouraged. This ends up on the street and in the gutters


• All horse entries MUST provide their own “Pooper Scooper” equipment and manpower. Horse clubs are encouraged to have the “Pooper Scooper” crew(s) be original and dress to entertain the spectators. Horse entries will assemble no more than three (3) abreast.


• Any automobile/motorcycle/machinery or other type club, organizations or etc… will limit their entries to four (4) items representing their club, organization or etc… (ex. A car club will only be allowed four (4) cars from that club to be represented in the parade)

The theme for this year’s Mandan Independence Day Parade is “Groovin' back to the 70's”.