Mark your calendars!
The 2020 Okotoks Parade and Children's Festival happens June 20, 2020!
The theme for 2020 is still being determined.
For more information please call the Community Event Specialist at 403-938-8950.
Okotoks Annual Parade Float Registration
Entering a Float into the Parade
- Commercial Float Entry is $35.00; all other entries are no charge.
- Registration information will be populated by April 13, 2020.
When registering for the Parade, the following information is required:
- Additional contact information
- Category of entry
- Parade Day cell #
- Email address
- Length of entry
- Length of towing unit
- Width of entry
- Type of sound system
FOR SAFETY REASONS: (Safety is our first priority – yours and our spectators!)
- Parade floats require a minimum of two (2) walkers who walk on each side of the float for a total of four (4) walkers.
- All entrants are responsible for ensuring that the design and operation of their entry is safe and reliable.
- Float entry must be fully decorated with a railing around the perimeter of the float deck. Such railings must be of solid construction with top and intermediate rails. The top rail shall be a minimum of 36”.
- All entries are prohibited from throwing candy or distributing materials from float, vehicle or trailer. Any candy or other materials must be distributed by walkers surrounding the entry.
- For safety reasons, participants shall not mount/dismount from entries unless the entry has come to a complete stop.
General Information
The Parade organizers determine location of all entries in the parade and the entry must maintain that position throughout the parade unless otherwise directed by a Parade Official. All entries will be given a check-in time, once checked in, entries will receive a a number indicating where they will be located in the parade line-up. This check-in information will be emailed to all entrants the week of the parade. Please arrive on time for your placement along North Railway Street; the Parade will start at Poplar Avenue.
Parade entry arrival: 9:00am
Parade start time: 11:00am
Parade Set Up
The following revisions have been made to our parade staging areas in order to reduce the impact of road closures off Stockton Ave:
- Parade entries will enter the parade zone travelling East to West from 32nd Street along North Railway Street. Parade entries travelling East will not be permitted entry into the event zone.
- Horses and Horse Club Entries: will meet at the Southland Bus Depot at 177 Stockton Point. To enter, turn left at Stockton Point-left-Southland Bus Depot. Horse entries to exit beside Fountain Tire gates.
- Band Entries: will enter from the East and line up along Crystal Ridge Drive.
Parade entries that require no set up: meet at the information tent across the road from Fountain Tire on North Railway Street.
Please note that the parade route, from Lineham Avenue to Northridge Drive, will close to all moving vehicles at 9:30am.
Parade History
Staff from the Okotoks Museum & Archives have researched the history of the Okotoks Parade to find the beginnings by using Council minutes and other archived resources. It is determined that there was a post World War I parade in 1918 and a post World War II parade both of which were to celebrate the end of the wars as opposed to a parade with floats. In 1954, the Town had a parade day to celebrate the Town's 50th anniversary, and another in 1955 to celebrate the Province's 50th anniversary. The Okotoks Parade became an annual event in 1969*. (*date determined by Okotoks Museum & Archives.)
- Community Events Coordinator: 403-938-8950 Contact Online
