We went through the list provided by Board Members & Lead Volunteers to spark conversation about the parade.
https://stpatsdayparade.com/2025-parade-committee-notes/
Where exactly are the “Spots?” (COMPLETED)
Somehow mark where a “Spot” is.
Will come back to this in more detail in a later note.
PARADE SECTON A (on 6th street facing North at 6yh & Jefferson)(COMPLETED)
Section A are mainly Police/Fire/ Veterans. This year, entries just rolled in and parked altogether not really being where they should…even parking in the middle of the road and all over.
Section A has 8 spots on the map…there were 15 entries there, each with multiple vehicle we did not know about.
We typically do not know how many cars and people Section A will have…as most are not required to fill out a registration. So giving 1 spot each to police,,,and they bring 10 cars each…does not work for lining them up and fitting them into the 1 street block of Section A.
Either they should fill out a registration….or they can email us how many people, cars, trailers etc..and we can hop on and fill it our for them. That way if they take up 3 spots…we can reserve that type of space for them.
Again, let’s define a “spot”….Jim has suggested, it would be equal to 1 truck pulling 1 medium sized trailer
Adding on to Barry’s comment(COMPLETED)
Put into the online and printed rules there should be no Confetti Cannons, at least we would be covered that they were informed.
Breaking Parade Rules
Could there be any type of repercussions for entries found breaking the rules?
Although Katelyn had suggestion of a fine, Jim was thinking more along lines of a post-parade email, Sending a copy of the rules and letting them know they were seen doing their activity not allowed.
Free ride on Volunteer entry
Older volunteers get place on trailers first, follow by returning volunteers. Then the super young and 1st timers…anyone left, can carry the banner or ride in the truck bed.
Also, Trailer was trashed with garbage like water bottles & food container,,,and even volunteer vests. Generally messy (and no one on the trailer said any simple thanks to the Sponsor for providing it) ,,I did though when they got back.
Use of Police(COMPLETED)starts 2026
Agreed that parade should know in advance how many police we are paying for so we can budget that expense. Volunteers suggest police should be at crowded areas in the parade route. Also the 4 corners of the parade route The barricade area manned by a volunteer seem to be enough for public not to come in.
Graphics(In Progress)
Online and printed Map with Spots for entries are blurry and need re-created to look more bold and crisp.
9th & Jefferson Entrance issue(Starting 2026)
Should make that only 1 way to enter.
Suggestion was to make the South Bound lane is the entrance lane.
The North Bound Lane needs to keep driving…and get turned around to enter from South =Bound lane. There is a back-up happening when people are trying to enter the wrong entrance when traveling North and wanting to turn WEST into the 9th & Jefferson entrance.
No Shows should = No refund?
Was an idea getting kicked around.
Lobster food truck turned away – kinda
Apparently, he came at 10:30am…(which I was aware)….but tried to enter at 7th & Madison and also 9th & Jefferson. Since he was arriving at the height of parade people showing up…we had food trucks entering on West Washington,,,,which he never did. So he emailed me saying he just drove off….after not being able to get in.
Handicap Parking somewhere next year?
There were a few people asking for Handicapped parking, the volunteers could only say there were not any. IF they wanted to drop off….then park elsewhere they can do that.
Defining what a “Spot: is came back up again(COMPLETED)
This time, measure our an actual measurement in feet
Same message given to public many times
Volunteers gave constant message that only floats and parade entries in parade..not personal cars.
Requesting for having multiple pre-parade volunteer meet ups
Volunteer think they should meet 3 times before parade day and be a part of emails.
In short, they should be signed up and participating, not showing up untrained or unmotivated on parade day. If you want to volunteer, then you would be willing to put some effort in to be prepared for the big day.
Back to Section A
Since Entries fill more than 1 ‘spot’, we can use the 2nd block to create spaces.
Police morning meeting was in F Lot?
usually they meet in Upper Harace Mann
7th & Madison suggestions
Idea 1a) Maybe have cones laid out creating and Entrance Lane for D & F
Idea 1b) South Bound People on 7th, want to cross over traffic T Madison…just ask question….or enter parade,,,,but the block traffic when they do. South bound people just need to turn East and go around the block, and come in South side of the street.
Buses
Need Bus drop off area(COMPLETED)
Need Bus parking
Re-visited need for pre-parade volunteer training
Training video is good, Needs updated.
Needs watched to be a volunteer.
Add End of parade activities. Clean up, check out.
Employee of Downtown bars/businesses
Business should remind staff they will be unable to drive thru downtown to get to work, or park on the route or in places they are normally used to.
BOS/PCCC Simultaneous Events
Wrestling Tournament is schedules same day and time as Parade.
People try to enter 9th & Jefferson and other areas to park around the Event Center.
Clip Boards
Clip board should have Maps of all sections, because people are n wrong Section and can be shown where they are supposed to be.
Barricades weight
Barricades are heavier as we get older. Can we make small plat forms with wheels we can put them on, so Volunteers can simply wheel a barricade open and closed?
Orange Numbered Cards
If a group signs up and says they have 12 cars in their group….make so each items has an Orange number. If the group is #20 with 10 cars. The subsequent vehicles can have 20a , 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, etc… so Staging knows they are together…and they should have a pre-defined “Spot” reserved for them.
Marking of the “Spots”
1a) We can’t really mark the Horace Mann Lot with Chalk or anything to mark the “Spots”….but I could make poles that stand up and mark the “Rows.”
1b) This year, a volunteer went to the 1st entry of each row,,,and reminded them they do not go directly after the row next to them. She looked, then told them the what the last car was in the row they were each to follow…and to watch for THAT car..not the row next to them.