Parade FAQs

For Marchers and Floats

Marchers:

Marchers should arrive at **Hillside Elementary School** no later than 9:15 AM on the day of the event. Upon arrival, look for a volunteer with a neon shirt or a lanyard to find your group. Additional roads will be closed in this area shortly after this time (including Van Antwerp & Cornelius). Hillside School will be open for bathroom visits, and we ask that young ones are accompanied by an adult while in the school.

*We strongly encourage parents and marchers to park at Niskayuna High School (where the parade ends) and take the shuttle over to Hillside Elementary School

Floats & Vehicles:

Floats and vehicles in the parade are to assemble at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church on Union Street no later than 9:00 AM on the day of the event. Ray Street will be blocked for the parade, so all floats should enter the church from the Union Street entrance. All floats should be assembled prior to arrival, though final pieces can certainly be added on that morning.

Any float not prepared to move will fall in at the end of the parade. If you have a group walking with your float, please note that they will line up at a different area. You will all come together at the intersection (this is done for safety reasons).

Bands and Marching Units:

These units will be in place in their assigned division by 9:15am. Upon arrival at the assembly area, each unit is required to have a representative report to the appropriate Division Head. Once your unit has arrived at the assigned location, it is to remain there. Division Heads will report their division’s readiness at 9:45am to the Parade Coordinators. The parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. promptly – RAIN OR SHINE! It is important that all bands, marching units, schools, etc. have a banner identifying their group. This makes the parade more enjoyable for those watching the parade.

Shuttle Buses:

A shuttle bus will provide transportation to and from Craig Elementary School to Niskayuna High School from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Shuttle buses will be yellow Niskayuna School buses. The pickup/drop-off location at Niskayuna High School is at the circle in front of the main entrance. Parade participants and spectators can take a shuttle from Craig to the Niskayuna High School. Parade participants can then take a shuttle bus from the high school to Hillside Elementary

Shuttle buses will continue to run from Niskayuna High School back to Craig until 3pm.

OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE:

DISABLED FLOATS OR VEHICLES: Any float or vehicle which is unable to move under its own power will immediately be moved out of the way so that those following can proceed.

RESTROOMS: Restroom facilities will be available for parade participants at Hillside Elementary School.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  • Only units approved by the Parade Coordinator and appearing in the final parade roster will be allowed in the line of march.

  • Units will not be allowed to show signs or banners other than those which depict the day’s theme or information previously submitted to the Parade Coordinator.

  • Units arriving late for assembly will fall in at the end of the parade.

  • All bands are requested to play as they approach the reviewing stand in front of the Niskayuna CO-OP on Nott Street. This will enable guests at the reviewing stand to hear a full song from your group as you pass by the stand.

  • The use of fixed bayonets by any unit is forbidden during the parade.