Festival of the Whales Parade

CITY OF DANA POINT COMMUNITY SERVICES & PARKS DEPT.

Dear Festival of Whales Parade Participant,

The City of Dana Point is delighted that you will be participating in the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 7, 2015. To ensure the continued success of the parade and to make this day enjoyable for the parade participants and the parade viewers, we’ve supplied the following information which needs to be distributed to all members of your group.

Parade Date/Time

Festival of Whales Parade “Magical Migration”
Saturday, March 7, 2015 Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. Parade route is approximately 1 mile.

Parade Route

The parade extends along Pacific Coast Highway southbound from Selva Road to Golden Lantern.

Staging Area

Staging and set-up will occur in the Strands Beach Parking Lot at Selva Road, Dana Strand and Pacific Coast Highway.

Due to street closures beginning at 8:00am access to the Staging Area will be limited to Selva Road from Golden Lantern. Pacific Coast Highway northbound right after Golden Lantern will be closed, as well as Pacific Coast Highway south bound right after Selva Road.

Only vehicles participating in the parade will be allowed to enter or park in the staging area. For the parade participants that are being dropped off, we will have a drop off area located on Selva Road near the Strands Parking Lot entrance. Drivers can then proceed to the disband area. Another option for parade participants is to try and find parking at the end of the parade route and access the parade participant shuttle bus to the staging area. The shuttle bus will start at 7:00am. We highly suggest that if you plan on taking the shuttle bus to the staging area that you do so between the hours of 7:00am to 8:00am, as we need everyone checked in at the staging area no later than 8:45am. The shuttle bus pick/up point is at the San Juan Ave. and Violet Lantern by the Harbor House Restaurant.

The Staging Area is a very busy and exciting location on Saturday morning with all of the parade participants, including numerous car clubs and transportation buses, converging onto Strands Beach parking lot. Please share with your group’s participates that for everyone’s safety, no bicycles, scooters, skateboards, skate shoes or roller blades are to be ridden within the Staging Area.

Parade Entrant Check-In Procedures

• ?  Your group leader will need to check-in your group at the registration booth, located in the Staging Area at the Strands Beach Parking lot.

• ?  Parade check-in will take place between 7:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. on Saturday morning. Please do not arrive prior to 7:30 a.m.

• ?  All parade entrants must be checked in by 8:45 a.m.

• ?  Due to last minute entries and placements, you will receive your parade order number at the

  registration/check-in area on Saturday morning, the day of the parade.

  34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point, CA 92629 ? (949) 248-3530 ? Fax (949) 496-3497 Internet: www. danapoint.org

CITY OF DANA POINT COMMUNITY SERVICES & PARKS DEPT.

Disband Area

The Disband Area is located on San Juan Ave. between Golden Lantern and Violet Lantern. After your group completes the parade route we will have a disband shuttle bus that will take parade participants from the Disband Area back to the Staging Area. The pick up point for the shuttle bus is at San Juan Ave. and Violet Lantern by the Harbor House Restaurant.

Street Closures

Pacific Coast Highway just passed Golden Lantern and also San Juan Ave. from Violet Lantern to Golden Lantern will be closed at approximately 8:00am.

Parade Awards

All parade entries are eligible to receive an award. The categories are listed below and will be announced a few days after the parade.

Mayor’s Award.....................................................Best Display of Parade Theme City Award.......................................................................Best Youth Group Musical Award................................................................Best Musical Unit Festival of Whales Award.......................................................Best Local Entry

Parade Rules and Regulations:

1. Failure to follow Parade Officials instructions shall be cause for disqualification and no awards will be issued.

2. At no time is any person or unit allowed to hand out or throw anything from a vehicle along the parade route.

3. Due to last minute entrees and placements, parade numbers will be handed out the morning of the parade when the first vehicle in your party checks in at the registration desk. Parking passes for the disband area will be handed out at this time as well.

4. Forward motion must be maintained throughout the parade route. Entries must remain in assigned positions throughout the entirety of the parade.

5. Bands directors must have in their possession parent release liability forms.

6. Alcoholic beverages and/or illegal substances are prohibited in the assembly area and during the

   parade.

7. Discharging of firearms, sirens or loud noises is prohibited by participants along the parade route.

8. For everyone’s safety, no bicycles, scooters, skateboards, skate shoes or roller blades are to be ridden

   within the Staging Area.

9. All groups participating need to follow the California Vehicle code.

10. All groups (with the exception of school groups, marching bands or military units) will be limited to a

    maximum number of 25 participants.

If you have ANY questions, please contact Sherry Murphy, Recreation Manager at (949) 248-3533, or email to smurphy@danapoint.org. Additional information about the Festival of Whales festivities can be found at www.festivalofwhales.com. Thank you again for your participation in the Festival of Whales Parade 2015.

Sincerely,

Sherry Murphy Recreation Manager

34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point, CA 92629 ? (949) 248-3530 ? Fax (949) 496-3497 Internet: www. danapoint.org