Parade Application 2024

** Note that Majorette Groups will be in the parade, and will be judged, but will not be in the competition this year. **

The Alsatia Mummers’ parade accepts the following types of submissions into the parade:

• Organized bodies – those walking in the parade (bands, majorettes, color guard, drill teams, cheer, dance, scouts, 4-H, or schools in special dress)
• Floats
• Vehicles (cars, military units, buses, nursing home vans, units with sound equipment, convertibles)
• Fire trucks and EMS
• Commercial unit – entries used for advertisement of a business or group for profit
• Mummer – a person in costume 

General Rules for all entries

• All 2024 parade entries are due to be submitted by October 11, 2024 by midnight.  Any entries received after this date and time are subject to being placed at the end of the parade.
• The Alsatia Mummers’ Parade committee reserves the right to reject any entry.
• All entries MUST sign and return the Hold Harmless Agreement with the City of Hagerstown and the Alsatia Club before an entry is accepted.
• All members of your group must always follow instructions from parade officials. 
• NO DISTRIBUTION OF CANDY, LITERATURE OF ANY TYPE, ETC BY ANY ENTRY WILL BE ALLOWED.  ANY VIOLATIONS WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM PARADE.
• No entries can contain political, controversial, obscene, or anti-religious messaging in any form.
• No pick-up trucks will be allowed unless pulling a float. NO PASSENGERS ARE ALLOWED TO RIDE IN THE BED OF PICK-UP TRUCKS
• All live animals are subject to approval by the Alsatia Parade Formation Committee. Liability insurance will be required.
• No sounding of firearms, open fires, or sirens/horns by any type of vehicle is permitted.
• The parade committee may invite incumbent elected officials and other dignitaries as guests to participate in the Mummers’ parade.
• The Alsatia Club Mummers’ Parade Queen and King must be from Washington County Competitions. 
• State and National winners will be considered on an individual basis.
• No antique vehicle newer than 1995 will be allowed to enter the antique vehicle division.
• No person or device can be used to propel, accelerate, lift, or toss one or more performers. No stacking of persons (no pyramids). This rule is intended for ALL entries.
• All units must maintain forward motion throughout the duration of the parade. 
• Units will begin their performance at three (3) different “SOUND OFF” signs along the parade route.
• Should forward movement of the parade be stopped due to circumstances beyond your control, a unit may drill while stopped but must stop drilling and move forward when the parade resumes forward movement and/or at the command of the Alsatia Marshall in charge. 
• Marshalls are instructed to inform judges of any and all violations. 
• Points may be deducted for any and all violations of any rules. Judges may be stationed all along the parade route as well as in the Judge’s reviewing area at Bester School. 

Organized Bodies Rules

BAND JUDGING CRITERIA CAN BE ACCESSED HERE

• Entries defined as any group marching/walking in the parade (i.e., Bands, majorettes, color guard, drill teams, cheer, dance, scouts, 4-H, or schools in special dress) 
• An Organized Body may register in multiple judging categories.
• Cheer groups are permitted to use pom-poms/other cheer equipment, or they may choose to use hands.
• Dance groups must use music either by broadcast vehicle or by use of instruments and may include the use of canes, hats or other items but typically not poms or batons.
• When applying, make correct selections of judging categories.

• On parade day:

• • Organized bodies will report to Oak Hill Avenue. 
  • Rest Rooms are available along Oak Hill Avenue.
  • Buses will be allowed on Oak Hill Avenue off Northern Avenue to unload groups. This is the only place buses will be allowed to unload. 
  • The check-in trailer will be located at the corner of Oak Hill Avenue and Cypress Street. 
  • Buses will exit following the direction of a parade official. The bus will then go to South Hagerstown High School.
  • Equipment vehicles will not be allowed in the parade, they will exit at the direction of a parade official and proceed to South Hagerstown High School. 

PLEASE NOTE:  NEW END OF PARADE PICK UP AREA: Pickup will occur on West 1st Street which is one block North of Wilson Blvd.  All marching unit transportation MUST park at South Hagerstown High School.  The organized body MUST contact their transportation AFTER going through the judging area to coordinate pickup on West 1st Street.   

Float Rules

• A $25.00 non-refundable entry fee is due with applications (School K – 12 exempt).
• The entire float must be decorated except for the towing vehicle, self-propelled floats must be completely decorated.
• Floats will be skirted on both sides and back from the deck to the road.
• Float entries are subject to Formation Committee approval.
• The height of the float shall not exceed 11 feet 6 inches. Drivers should be aware of any low hanging wires.
• No sounding of firearms, open fires, or sirens/horns by any type of vehicle is permitted.
• NO PASSENGERS ARE ALLOWED IN THE BED OF PICK-UP TRUCKS.

• On parade day

• • Check in starts at 3pm – all floats must check in no later than 4:30pm at the corner of Magnolia and Potomac Avenue. 
  • Street assignments will be given at that time along with the float number.
  • Floats will be staged on Potomac Avenue. 
  • Floats will leave the parade route at East Howard Street at the direction of a Parade Marshall. You will travel East Howard Street to Rose Hill Avenue to disband. 
  • All units are responsible for cleaning up any debris when disbanding. 
  • Please do not go to South Hagerstown High School or South End Shopping Center.

Vehicles Rules

• Entries include cars, military units, buses, nursing home vans, units with sound equipment, convertibles, etc.
• No sounding of firearms, open fires, or sirens/horns by any type of vehicle is permitted.

• On parade day:

• • Check in starts at 3pm – all vehicles must check in no later than 4:30pm at the corner of Magnolia and Potomac Avenue. 
  • Street assignments will be given at that time along with a number.
  • Vehicles will be staged on Potomac Avenue. 
  • Vehicles will leave the parade route at East Howard Street at the direction of a Parade Marshall. You will travel East Howard Street to Rose Hill Avenue to disband.

Fire Trucks and EMS Units Rules

• Fire Companies and EMS Units are limited to one (1) unit per organization.
• No sounding of firearms, open fires, or sirens/horns by any type of vehicle is permitted.

• On parade day:

• • All fire and EMS units will report to Hamilton Blvd from Northern Avenue.
  • Parade order is determined by arrival time.
  • All motorized units will leave the parade route at East Howard Street to Rose Hill Avenue.

Commercial Unit Rules

• Entries used for advertisement of a business or group for profit.
• A $200.00 entry fee is due with applications 
• No sounding of firearms, open fires, or sirens/horns by any type of vehicle is permitted.

• On parade day:

• • All Commercial units will report to the corner of Magnolia and Potomac Avenue.
  • All motorized units will leave the parade route at East Howard Street to Rose Hill Avenue.

Mummers' Rules

• Entries of a person in costume participating in the parade – participants must be in costume, and the costume must not be offensive to a general audience (subject to denied entry into the parade).
• Mummers may not enter with a motorized vehicle.

• On parade day:

• • Sign up / check-in on the evening of the parade after 4:30 pm. If pre-registered online, sign up on parade day is not necessary, but please check-in by 5:45 pm.
  • Sign up / check-in will be at a NEW location this year: 480 N Potomac Street, Middletown Valley Bank parking lot.
  • Judges need to see your Mummer number to consider your costume for judging