Sponsor/Volunteer Information

2024 Holiday Parade Guidelines Presented by COCHECHO FRIENDS

ENTRY DEADLINE: Sunday, November 24, 2023. A late fee of $25 will be applied to applications received after November 24 and will not be accepted after Monday, November 25.

All entrants must submit a certificate of insurance. This can be obtained from your carrier. The name of the insured must be on the certificate, forward to COCHECHO FRIENDS c/o Lori Nollet 48 Wallace Dr Dover, NH.
List COCHECHO FRIENDS and the CITY of DOVER as an additional insureds and Certificate Holders for the day of the event. The Vendor shall secure and maintain for the duration of this Agreement a General Liability Insurance policy or policies at no cost to the City of Dover. The coverage of said insurance policy shall be in an amount of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) in the aggregate. An insurance certificate shall be supplied to the City of Dover by the Vendor, as well as proof of an endorsement or policy additional insured provisions confirming the City of Dover’s additional insured status. The City of Dover shall be named as an additional insured on the Vendor’s general liability insurance policy, whichcoverage shall apply on a primary and noncontributory basis, and, subject to the dollar amounts specified above, cover the City of Dover with the same scope of coverage provided to the Vendor under the general liability policy without subjecting the City of Dover to any different or additional terms, conditions, limitations or exclusions. A condition of the insurance coverage shall be thirty (30) days’ notice to the City of Dover prior to cancellation of the policy. You will be unable to participate without a proper certificate of insurance.

Float trailers must meet the following requirements: it may not have protruding or outrigger wheels unless modified to protect all from the wheel assembly; it must have rails; a minimum of one adult rider on a trailer to supervise children; and riders must keep within the perimeter of the vehicle. You must comply with all state parade float guidelines, including NH RSA 265:108-a. Contact us with any questions.

Lineup is assigned soon after the entry deadline. Your contact person will receive an information packet with your street assignment and arrival time by November 26. Please provide Email contact information.

Applicants assume all responsibility for any loss or damage in connection with their float entry at the City of Dover Holiday Parade. COCHECHO FRIENDS will not be liable for any damage, theft, loss of property or injury.

The COCHECHO FRIENDS Holiday Parade Committee reserves the right to cancel the parade at any time for any reason - including inclement weather. The COCHECHO FRIENDS Holiday Parade Committee will have complete and absolute discretion in determining if/when the event will be canceled. If for any reason you question that there may be a cancelation the day of the parade, please listen to WOKQ/97.5 or go to our Facebook page - Dover Holiday Parade.

Cochecho Friends and the Holiday Parade Committee will have complete and absolute discretion in accepting entries for the Holiday Parade. Entry shall not be refused based on sex, race, religion, age or any other classification prohibited by law.

Unregistered entries will not be allowed to participate in the Holiday Parade.

All mobile units must be decorated to reflect the parade theme. This includes cars, vans and trucks.

All participants must arrive at the assigned time indicated in their information packet. (Floats: 12:00 PM, Other Units: 1:00 PM) All entries must check in with a street monitor upon arrival. Anyone not in place by the designated time will forfeit that location. In case of a late arrival, the entry will be moved to the end of the parade. All floats must be in place within the staging area by 1:00 PM, and fully assembled and ready for inspection by 1:30 PM. A Holiday Parade Committee member will conduct a safety inspection of all floats. Any float not meeting requirements of RSA 265:108-a will have the option to participate without any passengers, or to withdraw from the parade lineup.

Should you require any assistance prior to the start of the parade, contact a street monitor or report to the parade headquarters at Dover Chamber of Commerce located at 550 Central Ave.

No spray string, stink bombs or any other product interfering with the safety and enjoyment of the audience will be allowed. No firearms are to be discharged anywhere along the parade route.

For safety reasons, participants in vehicles or walking may not throw candy or other handouts to people along the parade route. Candy may be handed out to the crowd by walkers only. You MUST not hold up the parade by lagging too far behind the unit in front of you.

Distribution of brochures or literature by entrants is not allowed along the parade route.
To be eligible for trophy awards, participants must be set up and fully decorated by the assigned arrival

time. No float and/or vehicle are to be left unattended at any time while waiting for the parade to start.