Many volunteers and community organizations participate in our patriotic parade. We honor the incredible sacrifice it has taken to establish and maintain this great nation. Before registering to march in our community parade, please be sure your organization is able to comply with these rules. A registration link appears at the bottom of the page.
Parade Rules & Online Registration
All entries are subject to the approval of the Parade Committee
Any entry not conforming to these rules and regulations will be eliminated from the Parade. Violations of any of the Memorial Day Parade Rules will disqualify the entry immediately. The Farmington Memorial Day Parade Committee reserves the right to deny requests to march in the parade, or to remove from the parade any persons, displays, floats, vehicles, organizations or groups who are determined to be in any way non-compliant with the "spirit" of the event for any reason, including but not limited to behavior or displays which could be interpreted as a nuisance, offensive, inappropriate or out of character for a Memorial Day event. Any such decision of the Parade Committee or its representative is final and not eligible for appeal.
Types of Organizations
We welcome Military or Veteran Organizations, Community Service and Civic Organizations, City, County, State or Federal Officials and all elected public office holders, Marching Bands, Musical or Dance Groups, Charitable Non-Profit Organizations or Clubs, Police, Fire or Public Safety and Public Works Departments, Scout Packs and Troops. If your organization does not fit into any of the categories above, or is commercial (for-profit business), or the primary focus is a candidate for office, religious, political or social engineering, or advocating for a legislative or judicial outcome, this parade honoring the memory of military veterans would not be the proper event to participate in. The Farmington Founder's Festival Parade held in July welcomes all such groups. For more information visit www.foundersfestival.com.
Respect
This is the day we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation in wartime. Whether in the Parade or on the sidelines, Memorial Day is not a time to promote our businesses, candidates or campaigns for elective or appointed office, social or political ideologies. Our singlular purpose is to honor those who serve and have served in the military.
Safety
Please do not hang on cars or floats. No throwing or distributing of any objects from the line of march, such as candy, balloons, gum, literature, etc. Such action may cause an accident by enticing a child into the line of march. If appropriate, such items may be handed out along the edges of the road. No one will be permitted to enter the parade from the sidelines, and anyone may at any time be removed from the Parade, if a Parade Official believes or determines that they may be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance which may place at-risk the safety of others.
Give-aways
Coupons, paper flyers, balloons and flags may be distributed by parade participants only. Handbills and political flyers of any kind are strictly prohibited.
Performances
Dances or other demonstrations must keep pace with the parade flow. Groups may not stop to perform. All special movements, acts, or demonstrations MUST be performed while moving forward at a speed necessary to maintain designated pace and intervals between groups.
Floats
A vehicle with a platform used to carry exhibits or participants should be a trailer or flat-bed truck, with a minimum length of 6 feet for the platform area. All floats shall be limited to no more than 12 feet high and 10 feet wide. Floats must be able to be pulled by tow hitch in case of a mechanical breakdown.
Rules for Elected Officials
(all others skip down to the blue button below)
One Elected Official per Group
We welcome your participation in this event. Please keep in mind the parade is not a campaign or political party opportunity, and we do not permit the grouping of elected officials. With the exception of the Farmington and Farmington Hills City Councils, groups may only contain one Elected Official. For example, a State Senator cannot March with another Federal, State or County office holder in their group. There are no exceptions to this rule. Groups of elected officials are separated from each other by groups that do not contain elected officials. The marching heirarchy of goverment officials in the parade is Military, Public Safety, City Officials, Federal Officials, State Officials, County Officials, Unelected Officials, all others.
Signs, Magnets, T-Shirts, Literature or other Identifying Information
Elected Officials and their groups may not display or distribute anything with the words Elect, Re-Elect, Vote, Support or any other verb suggesting an action be taken with the singular exception of "Support Our Troops". Any identifying information should be limited to the name and title of the office holder and any contact information. Any person or group displaying items containing words with partisan political topics such as (but not limited to) Abortion/Right to Life, Gun Control/2nd Amendment, Global Warming, Labor Rights, Immigration, etc., will not be permitted to march and their parade entry fee will not be refunded. Such decision may be made before or during the Parade at the sole discretion of Parade staff and cannot be appealed.
Freedom
Freedom isn't free. But we try to make sure this parade is. There is no charge for non-profit clubs, civic groups, or public charities to participate in the parade. However, we ask that each elected official send a minimum contribution of $50 per individual entry, float or vehicle to our non-profit 501c3 Charitable Foundation help defray the cost of our Memorial Day events. These contributions help to fund the costs of street closure, parade supplies, American flags, and the free-to-attend community luncheon held at the Riley Park afterwards:
Xemplar Foundation
CMO FHGOV
31555 W 11 Mile Rd.
Farmington Hills, MI 48336-1103
Memorial Day is a day to honor those who gave their lives for our freedoms, as well as those who have served or currently serve in our nation's military. Thank you for your interest in participating in the Farmington Memorial Day Parade. If your group or organization is able to conform with all of the above terms and conditions, and would like to march in the parade, please click the button below to register.
