By ALEXANDREA BAILEY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
The South Padre Island Annual Christmas Parade is slated for Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. Registration to participate in the parade is now open. As of the time of publication, registration for Port Isabel’s Holiday Parade has not yet been posted.
The SPI Christmas Parade will travel south on Padre Boulevard from Mars to Acapulco. To ensure a safe environment, Padre Boulevard will be partially closed on the aforementioned portion from 4:30-6 p.m. and fully closed from 6-10 p.m. on the day of the parade.
The backup date for the parade is Friday, Dec. 13.
Bus parking for parade participants is located on W. Red Snapper Street which will be closed to vehicle traffic, allowing participants to safely enter and exit buses. Parade officials recommend that parents park near Acapulco at the end of the parade so that they can meet their children.
Registration to participate in the parade is now open and available at christmasparade.myspi.org. The deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. Registration numbers will be given out on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Cash prizes will be awarded, with first place receiving a whopping $500.
On the day of the parade, registration runs from 4:45-5:45 p.m. Participants must remember their lineup number and make sure their entire group goes directly to that parade position. A parade volunteer will check participants in at that point, give them their entry number and remind the group of the rules.
According to the official parade rules, if a group is not in formation, staged in parade line-up, at the start time of the parade, at the discretion of the parade officials, their entry may be placed at the end of the parade or denied. Parade officials ask that individuals stay on their floats during the entire parade route and refrain from throwing objects from floats or cars. Participants may walk alongside their float to hand out candy or gifts.
“Safety is an issue and children may be injured while running out to receive treats,” reads the official rules.
No type of fire device may be used on the float itself. It should also be noted that no political advertising is allowed within the parade.
Entrants must provide their own music and sound system. CDs are no longer permitted. No mats or other props may be set up on the street for any performances. Entry numbers should be visible to judges on the east side of Padre Boulevard and returned to a parade official after the parade.
Since the parade has an official Santa Claus, no other Santa Claus will be permitted. However, inanimate caricatures, Mrs. Clause or helpers are allowed.
Judging will take place at Padre Island Brewing Co. Presentations at the judge’s stand are not to exceed 90 seconds.
Prize winners will be mailed checks and announced on social media.
SPI Parks and Recreation Manager Debbie Huffman is available to answer questions pertaining to the parade. She can be reached by phone at (956) 761-8168 or by email at dhuffman@myspi.org.
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