Application Guidelines

Welcome to the 114th Annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival, one of Sonoma County’s most honored traditions and one of the oldest and largest events of its kind in Northern California. This year’s event takes a look at how we live our lives from reducing our carbon footprint to taking life to the edge with extreme activities.

To make sure you thoroughly enjoy the parade experience, read all of these pages carefully. The Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival does not want you or your organization to miss any important deadlines or meetings. On parade day, it is important to have everything you need. If you are prepared, you will not have to worry about being told at the last minute that what you have arranged does not meet the guidelines.

Annually the Luther Burbank Rose Parade has close to 4,000 people participating in the parade as a part of the more than 120 entries. The following guidelines are designed to make the parade safe, enjoyable and entertaining for all.

Theme 2008: Go Green & X-Treme

This year the Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival is celebrating with the theme of “Go Green & X-Treme” – showcasing activities that take life to the edge as we focus on reducing our carbon footprint. We ask you to think about the theme and how you can relate it to your entry or your organization. Think about recycling, conservation and the environment along with activities that take life to the extreme such as BMX and mountain biking, skateboarding, sky diving, surfing and more. You can also choose to capitalize on the color green. Please see the special awards being offered to reward creativity.

In addition to traditional Festival activities this year’s event will include extreme sports exhibitions in the X-Treme Zone, a Green Zone, an X-Treme n Green Iron Chef Competition, and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America will be showing off their skills with their annual Scout-O-Rama. Please note the Festival has been moved to Downtown Santa Rosa and will predominately be located in Courthouse Square and on Fourth Street from B Street to E Street.

General Rules for all Entries

1. All entries must be decorated or costumed and relate to the Parade Theme: “Go Green & X-treme”.

2. ROSES: All entries, except bands, must have at least one rose visible to the judges. Roses may be natural flowers, painted, drawn or sculpted flowers. Entries without roses will be penalized 10 points. Bands wearing roses or otherwise incorporating roses in their entry (e.g. using rose related music) will receive 10 extra points.

3. This is an “all forward motion” parade. Performing groups should choreograph routines to maintain forward motion at the parade pace. No slow cadences allowed.

4. All entrants must conform to the description stated on their application. Any changes must be submitted in writing with a copy of your Entry Application. No changes will be allowed after April 23, 2008. The Parade Committee reserves the right to re-classify applicants.

5. All amplification systems must be noted on application and approved by the Parade Committee.

6. Judging will be done by an accredited judges association selected by the Parade Committee. Parade units can only compete in one category. Each unit will be judged on its overall presentation and the judges’ decision will be final. If there is only one entry competing in a class or category, no cash awards will be made in that class or category.

7. No political entries will be accepted. No units displaying political advertising will be permitted to enter the line-up. Units discovered to have political advertising along the route will be removed from the line-up immediately. Currently serving elected officials may be invited to ride in the parade with signs identifying their current status. They may not campaign for re-election, nor may they display any electioneering materials in the parade.

8. LIMITATIONS: Only one motor vehicle per entry is permitted, except car and motorcycle clubs who may have up to 4 motor vehicles per entry. Marching groups are limited to 50 participants. Equestrian entries are limited to 12 horses per entry.  All entries are prohibited from passing out any written materials, such as, pamphlets, leaflets or flyers.

9. All entrants will be checked before entering the parade line. Any entry, which does not conform to this application or these rules, will be disqualified and may not be allowed into the parade and entry fees will not be refunded. Entries depicting violence, drugs, illegal activities, or otherwise deemed inappropriate will be disqualified from judging and will not be allowed into the line-up and entry fees will not be refunded.

19. Parade orders will be mailed approximately April 23. You will be sent a Parade Route map, your unit assignment, your parade number and staging time. Please arrange to communicate this to your group prior to parade day.

11. Your signature on the parade entry form is evidence that you agree to all rules and will abide by those rules and the decisions of the Parade Committee and judges. Further, your signature on the entry form indicates that you agree that the LBR Parade & Festival (Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival), its Parade Committee, the City of Santa Rosa, and their associates, employees and agents, are released from any and all responsibility for loss, damage, or injury to any person or property relating in any way to participation in the Parade or Festival.

APPLICATION FEES & DEADLINES

1. The deadline for entries is 5 PM, Thursday, March 6, 2008 at the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, 637 First Street, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404. Late entries or late completion of initial entry information is permitted, at increased fees, by 5 PM Thursday, March 20, 2008. Please see fee details following.

2. Entry fees are not refundable. Once an entry has been accepted into the parade line up, entry fees cannot be refunded. If, for any reason, an entry is not accepted into the parade, fees will be returned.

3. The parade goes on rain or shine. All units must be prepared for rain or cold as well as sun and heat. Unless the Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival cancels the parade, all units will be expected to perform and no entry fees will be refunded.

4. Entry fees are as follows:

For Non-Commercial Entrants - nonprofit organizations, academic schools, veterans groups and individuals:
If application is complete by March 6                                 $50
If application is complete by March 20                               $75
If application is submitted but incomplete March 20        $125
A nonprofit organization is one that is a 501(c) tax-exempt organization. An academic school is one that offers academic programs for grades K-12.

For Commercial Entrants & All Others:
If application is complete by March 6                               $175
If application is complete by March 20                             $250
If application is submitted but incomplete March 20        $300

For Equestrian Entrants - 4 Horses and Less:
If application is complete by March 6                                 $25
If application is complete by March 20                               $50
If application is submitted but incomplete March 20          $75

For Equestrian Entrants - 5-12 Horses:
If application is complete by March 6                                 $50
If application is complete by March 20                               $75
If application is submitted but incomplete March 20        $125 

completion:
An application is considered complete when the following are received:

1. Application form with all information complete, including:

• Check or money order for application fee, due at time of delivery.
• Photocopy of insurance, as applicable (Generally, all entries containing animals or a motor vehicle must submit evidence of insurance.)

2. Applications received after March 20, 2008 will be considered only as space is available.

3. Special situations: ACADEMIC SCHOOLS may submit as many entries as they wish in one packet for a single fee. Applications received separately require separate fees.

SAFETY RULES FOR ALL

1. Parade participants may not throw any item or items from their unit, float or auto. Costumed out-walkers may distribute appropriate items such as product samples, to the audience at the curb, but should not encourage the audience to leave the curb or move into the street. NOTE: Distribution of written material is NOT permitted.
2. Parade participants may not jump onto or off of any float or moving vehicle and may not interfere with any other unit in the parade.
3. Drivers of any and all vehicles in the parade must have a valid driver’s license and be at least 18 years of age. All motorized vehicles must submit proof of liability insurance with entry form.
4. Alcoholic beverages are forbidden on any float, in any vehicle, or on the person of any participant. Participants consuming alcohol prior to or during the parade will be removed from the line up.
5. Floats must have hand-holds or barriers to secure riders in the event of sudden stops or starts, chairs or seating must be attached to float-bed.
6. Floats must be constructed of fire safe materials and must carry fire extinguishers with a minimum rating of 2-A, 10-B:C on the float in the parade. The fire department will be present at the Float Workshop to discuss this. Please contact the Santa Rosa Fire Department (543-3500) for detailed information. 

SPECIAL RULES FOR SPECIAL ENTRIES
Animals
Livestock, reptiles, wild and domestic animals shall not be in the parade without specific written approval by the Parade Committee. Entrants are responsible for all animal wastes along parade route and in staging and disbanding areas. All entries involving animals must provide proof of current insurance with the entry application. Don’t forget those roses! (See Rule 2-General Parade & Entry Rules). EQUESTRIAN ENTRANTS must provide a pooper scooper.

Floats
All floats will be pre-judged at 8 a.m. in the staging area. Award winning floats will be recognized during the parade by our announcers. A float is any fully decorated structure/vehicle that depicts the parade theme. Each float must be decorated over 90% or more of the unit. Floats may be decorated with fresh floral or natural materials or artificial materials. Bonus points will be awarded to floats using predominantly natural materials. Points will be deducted for undecorated truck cabs or tow vehicles. The maximum size of a float is 10 feet wide (8 1/2 feet will fit in a traffic lane to drive to the parade), 60 feet long, and 13 feet, 6 inches tall. Traffic lights and signs overhang the route; care should be taken not to exceed height limit. No persons will be permitted on floats that are not noted on the entry form. A MAXIMUM OF 12 WALKERS may accompany any float. Don’t forget those roses! (See Rule 2-General Parade & Entry Rules)

Antique & Classic Autos
These vehicles must be collector quality cars 30 or more years old. Don’t forget those roses! (See Rule 2-General Parade & Entry Rules)

Bands & Musical groups
All musical groups are required to play through the entire parade route. Penalty points will be applied for insufficient playing time. All band units should choreograph their performance for ALL FORWARD MOTION even at judge’s stand. Don’t forget those roses! (See Rule 2-General Parade & Entry Rules)
Judging Criteria
All entries, except bands, must contain at least one rose, visible to the judges. Ten points will be deducted for entries failing to meet this requirement.

For Floats
25 POINTS maximum for each:
1. Design: artistic imagination, color combination, focal point grouping
2. Construction Details: Workmanship, material used, lettering, use of natural materials
3. General Effect: Beauty and overall effect, audience reaction
4. Theme: Communication of theme in design, relation of theme to parade theme.

All Units - Penalty Points
A maximum of 20% of available points may be lost for the following infractions:
1. Throwing things from unit
2. Delay of parade
3. Not observing ALL FORWARD MOTION

All Units - Bonus Points
Up to 5 bonus points may be awarded for:
1. Encouraging audience participation or response
2. All floral or natural decorations
3. 100% decorated vehicles (cab or tow vehicle decorated)

PARADE ROUTE - Please Note Route Change
Most parade entrants will stage in Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building Parking Lot and along Stevenson Street. (If your walking unit contains young children, elderly or offers an extenuating circumstance, you have the option of staging on Sonoma Avenue and entering the parade line up at that point.) From the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial the Parade will move out the back northwest corner of the parking lot to Stevenson Street, moving westward to South E Street. Parade turns north on South E Street to Third Street. Parade turns west onto Third and continues straight to B Street where the Parade completes its route. Floats staying for display, entries that are also vendors at the Festival and walking units turn north on B Street to enter the Festival area. All other entries turn south on B Street to disband area. Disband instructions will be mailed with parade orders.

SELECTION OF ENTRIES
In the event more entries are received than can be presented in the parade, selection will be based on information in your application form. Please be as descriptive as possible when you complete the form. The Luther Burbank Rose Parade Committee will give priority to fully-decorated floats, marching bands, costumed/performing novelty or specialty groups, and equestrian units in order to design an entertaining and exciting parade.

PARADE CALENDAR

Entry Workshop – Thursday, January 24, 7 PM – 1 hour
Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds, Beverly C Wilson Hall
$5 per person

Master Float Builder, Ray Pulver of Upbeat Parade Productions will present this workshop. 

Entry deadline – Thursday, March 6, 5 PM
Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, 637 First Street, Santa Rosa

LATE Entry deadline – THURSDAY, March 20, 5 PM
Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, 637 First Street, Santa Rosa
Late Fees Are Required - Please read FEES section

Parade Orders Mailed by Friday, APRIL 25
Your place in the line up, parade number, division assignment, staging location, special information and a map will be mailed to you. Please make arrangements to communicate all information to everyone in your group.

Parade entrants Meetings
THURSday, May 1, 6 PM or tueSday, May 6, 6 PM
Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, 637 First Street, Santa Rosa
This good time to get your questions answered: about staging, judging, the route and disband directions. It’s best to send just one representative. You may attend either meeting.

Luther Burbank rose parade & festival
Saturday, may 17, 2008
Parade steps off at 10am at Sonoma Avenue and E Street.

Awards Ceremony
Main Stage - 2:00 PM
Parade Awards will be announced on the Main Stage beginning at approximately 2:00 PM